NE NEWS SERVICE
GANDHINAGAR, MARCH 22
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, who also holds the Health portfolio, has requested the Election Commission of India (ECI) to postpone the Rajya Sabha elections for four seats in Gujarat scheduled for March 26 as the entire government machinery is engaged in containing coronavirus, official sources said.
Vijay Rupani-led BJP government in the state is grappling with coronavirus pandemic. The entire administration and his Council of Ministers have been engaged in healthcare activities to contain the spread of COVID19.
“The total number of cases of coronavirus has risen to 18 in Gujarat with the first casualty from Surat,” Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel told reporters.
The budget session of the Gujarat Assembly is likely to be curtailed by a week due to the coronavirus outbreak. The session, scheduled to conclude on March 31, may end on or before March 26.
“Some ongoing procedures have been told to be hurried up by the government to wrap up the session before the scheduled date,” said a source in the Secretariat.
Incidentally, the Main Opposition Congress had despatched its MLAs Jaipur in Rajasthan fearing horse-trading by BJP. And the BJP had already triggered the resignations of five Congress MLAs.
