India today summoned a Pakistan High Commission official and issued a demarche over the death of an Indian soldier in unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan, terming it as 'deplorable'.

Counsellor Tariq Karim was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs during which the incident was condemned in strongest terms and it was conveyed that such loss of life was highly deplorable.

"A demarche was made lodging strong protest at the fatal casualty of an Indian soldier in unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan's forces in the Krishna Ghati Sector on August 8," a ministry release said.

The ministry also shared its 'grave concern at the continuing incidents of unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Pakistan forces along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB)'.

Despite repeated calls for restraint and call to adhere to the ceasefire understanding of 2003 for maintaining peace and tranquillity, Pakistan forces have carried out 301 incidents of unprovoked ceasefire violations along the LoC this year, the ministry added.  -- PTI

Gujarat Health Minister Shankar Chaudhary today claimed that the stone which was hurled at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's car at Dhanera town came from Rajasthan, and it was a 'political conspiracy' involving members of the opposition party.

Chaudhary was speaking in the Legislative Assembly during a discussion on the steps taken by the Bharatiya Janata Party government following the floods in Banaskantha and Patan districts.

"We have learned that the stone was from Rajasthan. Stones with such features are not found in Dhanera. It seems someone brought it from Rajasthan," said Chaudhary, MLA from Vav in Banaskantha district.

On a tour of flood-affected areas in Banaskantha district on August 4, Rahul Gandhi escaped unhurt when a stone was thrown at his car at Dhanera.

The minister claimed that the culprits belonged to the Congress.

"It's possible that someone brought the stone from Rajasthan as a part of political conspiracy. We are sure those who hurled the stone were from Congress," Chaudhary said.

Congress MLAs were not present in the House as they had walked out in protest. -- PTI

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday launched an agitation against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for 'insulting' people's mandate by dumping grand alliance and joining hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The former deputy chief minister, accompanied by his brother Tej Pratap Yadav, state RJD chief Ramchandra Purbe and other leaders, sat quietly for about one hour under statue of the Father of the Nation at Gandhi Maidan in Motihari to seek an apology from him.

"We sought apology from Mahatama Gandhi for being under leadership of a person (Kumar) who ditched everybody and went with the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) which killed Bapu," Tejashwi Yadav told reporters at the site.

Tejashwi Yadav is leading the RJD's 'Janadesh Apman Yatra' (insult to mandate yatra) to protest Kumar dumping grand alliance of the Janata Dal-United, the RJD and the Congress and joining hands with the BJP to form a new government in Bihar.

The yatra is also aimed at mobilising support for the RJD's August 27 rally at Patna.

Tejashwi said the reason for apology was that he had earlier sat under the same statue with Nitish Kumar at a function to celebrate centenary celebration of Champaran Satyagraha and also walked with him to urge people to follow ideals of the father of the nation.

In Patna, Tejashwi Yadav's father and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad once again described Kumar as 'palturam' (turncoat) to highlight his walking out of grand alliance and going with the BJP.

Prasad told reporters that he apprehends some JD-U workers would disguise among public to attack senior JD-U leader Sharad Yadav with water bottles, chappals when he arrives in Patna tomorrow to start his three-day tour programme of direct dialogue with people reportedly against party decision to walk out of grand alliance and side with the BJP.

Addressing a rally at Madhopur on border of East and West Champaran, Tejashwi alleged that Nitish Kumar, with the help of BJP president Amit Shah, was targeting his family by getting cases foisted against them.

"He (Kumar) has gone with those who questioned his DNA," he said to highlight Prime Minister's speech during Bihar poll in 2015 against Kumar.

Meanwhile, the JD-U took potshots at Tejashwi Yadav's yatra.

"It would have been better if he had started 'Kanoon Samman yatra' (campaign to honour laws) to answer charges of graft with facts," JD-U spokesman Neeraj Kumar said.

"As an accused in corruption case he (Tejashwi Yadav) has sullied his face in youths itself," Neeraj Kumar said.

Another JD-U spokesman Nikhil Mandal said 'it would have been better if he (Tejashwi Yadav) tendered apology toMahatama Gandhi for indulging in scam'. -- PTI

Photograph: PTI Photo

Describing the ongoing Doklam standoff as 'not very serious', the Dalai Lama today invoked 'Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai', a catchphrase that defined Sino-India ties in the 1950s, stressing that the two neighbours have to live side by side in peace.

Asserting that any problem has to be resolved through talks, the 81-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader said the theme of 21st century should be dialogue.

"That's the only way. One side's retreat and defeat is an old-time thinking. In modern times, every country is dependent on each other. Destruction of neighbour is destruction of yourself," he said, speaking at the Rajendra Mathur Memorial Lecture organised by the Editors Guild of India in New Delhi.

The spiritual leader, who calls himself a chela (disciple) of India, also needled China saying he can do more in India, which has freedom.

"Where there is no freedom, I don't like".

"There is some tension, but I do not think it is very serious. We need to make distinction between people and governments. The other day, I mentioned that Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai is the only way. India and China have to live side by side," the Dalai Lama said, even as he added that 'propaganda and wrong information make things complicated'. -- PTI

Sensex today.

BSE Sensex: Top losers today.

Direct tax collections jumped 19 per cent in the first four months of the current fiscal as demonetisation of higher denomination currency brought in more number of individuals in tax net.

Collections of direct taxes, which are made up of personal and corporate taxes, soared to Rs 1.90 lakh crore in April-July, an official statement said.

The collection, net of refunds, was 19.5 per cent of the total Budget Estimate of direct taxes for 2017-18.Corporate income tax grew 7.2 per cent on gross terms and personal income tax by 17.5 per cent. -- PTI

Six more Gujarat Congress MLAs to be expelled from the party for violation of the whip in Rajya Ssabha polls, Congress in-charge for Gujarat Ashok Gehlot told ANI.

In all, eight Gujarat Congress MLAs have been expelled from the party. -- ANI

IMAGE: Congress leader Ahmed Patel with other MLAs in Gujarat. Photograph: PTI Photo

Chandigarh stalking case accused Vikas Barala and Ashish being taken from hospital after medical test. Photograph: ANI

After an overwhelming show of strength by the agitating Maratha community on Wednesday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has agreed to their main demands.

DGP Chandigarh Tejinder Luthra holding a press conference after the arrest of prime accused Vikas Barala and co-accused Ashish Kumar and the addition of attempt to abduction charges on them.


The DGP said there was no political pressure on the police and they were doing everything professionally and objectively. "Attempt to abduction, two sections 365 and 511 have been added. Both the accused will be produced before the court tomorrow. A detailed interrogation of both accused was conducted. Both the accused will be presented in court tomorrow for police custody to be granted. The DGP said reconstruction of the crime scene will be done, statement of witnesses (the police who attended Varnika Kundu's call), CCTV recordings will be evaluated, along with a map of the route.


Vikas and his friend Ashish have been booked under sections 354 D (stalking), 341 of IPC (punishment for wrongful restraint) and also section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act (driving by a drunken person or by a person under the influence of drugs). Both were earlier arrested for allegedly stalking the 29 -year-old woman but were released on bail subsequently.

It was full house in the Central Hall of Parliament today. Congress MPs were heard criticising senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, calling him a motor mouth for his comment that the Congress was going through an existential crisis. But the criticism was brief.

The party finally had reason to celebrate with Ahmed Patel's successful re-election from Gujarat to the Rajya Sabha. Many Congress MPs were also happy that the revivalism of the party has begun with Patel, but as many others were also heard saying that it is Patel's revivalism and the end of Rahul Gandhi's political influence on Sonia Gandhi.  

Senior CWC members were heard saying that at yesterday's meeting with the Election Commission, many senior party leaders were there to present the memorandum to the CEC on Ahmed Patel, but nobody was interested in the Quit India resolution that Sonia Gandhi read out in Parliament today.  

One of the delegates to the CEC from the Congress was unable to walk due to medication and had to be literally carried to the meeting. This Congress leader normally avoids meetings in the evening nor does he answer phone calls because the medication makes him sleepy.  

The buzz is that Congress MP Rajiv Sukhla negotiated with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Bihar Congress leaders to ensure that the NCP MLA and JDU MLA voted for Ahmed Patel. Rajiv Shukla is now being hailed as a hero in Central Hall.  

BJP MPs, on the other hand, were speculating that Rajiv Shukla's entry into Gujarat politics is a fallout of BCCI politics. It is by using his BCCI clout that Shukla negotiated with Sharad Pawar for the NCP MLA's vote to Ahmed Patel. Four senior ministers were with Arun Jaitley in the CEC chambers yesterday -- Ravi  Shankar Prasad, Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal and Dharmedra Pradhan.  
 

BJP MPs were also heard saying that Arun Jaitley has become much closer to the RSS leadership after his visit to Kerala on Sunday after the murder of RSS functionaries. The Centre will not hesitate to send a strong message to the Kerala government.  


AIADMK MPs were talking in Central hall about Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edapaadi Palaniswami will be attend Venkaiah Naidu's swearing in on  Friday. But the O Panneerselvam faction will be skipping the function as he is upset with BJP and PM Modi in particular because the faction believes that no action has been taken against the Sasikala faction.  

Dilip Kumar fans, breathe a sigh of relief. Veteran actor Dilip Kumar has been discharged from Lilavati hospital in Mumbai.

Speaking to ANI, the actor's wife and veteran actress Saira Banu said earlier, "Dilip ji is totally fine and I am waiting to take him home today. Waiting for doctor to discharge him."

The legendary actor was admitted to Mumbai's Lilavati hospital on August 2 due to kidney-related ailments. As per Lilavati Hospital, his all vital parameters are reported to be stable. This is the third time the actor has been admitted to the hospital. In April last year, he was hospitalised due to fever and nausea.

Dilip Kumar has acted in over 65 films in his career and is known for his iconic roles in movies like 'Devdas '(1955), 'Naya Daur' (1957), 'Mughal-e-Azam' (1960), 'Ganga Jamuna' (1961), 'Kranti' (1981), and 'Karma' (1986).Last seen on the big screen in 'Qila' in 1998, the actor was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015.

-- ANI

Close shave at Delhi's IGI Airport as wings of two aircraft, Ethiopian Airlines and Air India, collided yesterday. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is probing the incident, reports ANI.


In a similar incident, earlier in April this year, the Air India and Indigo flights came face to face at the runway. The mishap was averted due to a timely alert from the Air Traffic Controller.

Opposition leaders to meet on August 11 to plan strategy after Parliament's monsoon session.

CST Railway station at 3pm today. The off-peak hour saw thousands at the station because of the Maratha Morcha being held at Azad Maidan today. The picture was tweeted by Mumbai Railway Users‏ @mumbairailusers. 

Rashtriya Janata Dal Chief Lalu Yadav on Tuesday accused the RSS and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh of trying to take the life of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi. Lalu's assertion comes following the furore witnessed in the Lok Sabha earlier today over the attack on Rahul Gandhi's convoy in Gujarat

2nd accused also joins investigation in stalking case, both are being interrogated: Chandigarh Police DGP Tejinder Luthra tells PTI. 

Two terrorists have been gunned down by security forces in an encounter in Tral of South Kashmir's Pulwama district.

The joint operation was launched by 42 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group.

Bodies of the terrorists are yet to be recovered and the exchange of fire is underway.

Encounter started at Gulabbagh Tral in Pulwama district.

Further details are awaited.

Vikas Barala has been arrested minutes after he reached the Chandigarh police station. His bail bond has been cancelled and an additional charge of attempt to abduct has been added.

The Chandigarh Police on Wednesday issued summons to Vikas Barala, the prime accused in the case, asking him to appear before them for further investigation.

Vikas, the son of BJP Haryana chief Subhash Barala, and his friend, Ashish Kumar, have been accused of stalking and chasing 29-year-old Varnika Kundu in an attempt to kidnap her.

Varnika, who is the daughter of senior Haryana-cadre IAS officer V S Kundu, alleged she was chased for approximately 30 minutes by the accused on Friday night. The duo was arrested and booked under section 354 D (stalking) of the IPC and 185 of the Motor Vehicle Act (driving by a drunken person or by a person under the influence of drugs) but were later granted bail.

Image: Subhash Barala with BJP spokesperson Jawahar Yadav

Delhi court sends Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah, arrested in the money laundering case, to 2-week judicial custody.

J&K: Encounter underway between Security forces and terrorists in Pulwama's Tral. More details awaited

Thousands of people belonging to the Maratha community from different parts of Maharashtra converged here today as part of their campaign to press for reservation in jobs and education among other demands. Amid tight security, the massive silent march began from the Jijamata Udyan in Byculla this morning with participants carrying saffron swallowtail flags.


People had started arriving in the city since early morning in private vehicles as well as public modes of transport. Police and traffic personnel were deployed in large numbers to manage the huge inflow of people and the movement of vehicles in Mumbai.


This is the 58th march of the Maratha community, exactly a year after the first such protest held in Aurangabad. The march has been organised by the Sakal Maratha Samaj, an umbrella organisation of several Maratha groups.


These 'mook morcha' or silent rallies were held in various parts of the state following the brutal rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl, belonging to the Maratha community, at Kopardi village in Ahmednagar district in July 2016.


The JJ flyover was closed for traffic in view of the march, police said. Schools in south Mumbai were closed today as a precautionary measure, an official said. At Azad Maidan, where the Maratha morcha will culminate later today, the campaigners raised slogans as Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar reached the venue. Some of the campaigners said that they don't want politicians to interfere.


Image: The Maratha Morcha at Azad Maidan. Pic: Sahil Salvi

With Ahmed Patel emerging victorious in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls, the Nationalist Congress Party on Wednesday reminded the Congress that this triumph happened because of their help, and the grand old party must remember this in the future.

"This was indeed a nail biting finish, his (Ahmed Patel) own MLAs (Member of Legislative Assembly) ditched him. Now, Congress must remember this in future, reciprocate it and treat us like younger brother", NCP senior leader Majeed Memon stold ANI.

"This certainly a boost for Congress and all opposition parties and people of Gujarat should teach Amit Shah and Bharatiya Janata Party a lesson for their failure and atrocious approach towards dalits and minorities", he added.

After the intense political developments and the Election Commission declaring two votes invalid, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel was able to retain his Rajya Sabha seat.

A total of 176 MLAs voted in the crucial elections, but two votes were declared invalid.The EC on late Tuesday night declared votes of two Congress MLAs - Bhola Bhai Gohil and Raghav Bhai Patel - invalid. The decision was taken on a complaint of the Congress.

Six people were injured after a vehicle hit French soldiers in Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret, local media reports.

Maratha Kranti Morcha protest heads to the Azad Maidan. The organisers of the protests have put forth 22 demands, including reservation for the community in government jobs and education, death sentence for the accused in the Kopardi rape-murder case and dilution of the Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Caste and Tribes Act.

Image: Sahil Salvi.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah today said Congress leader Ahmed Patel's win in Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls "should have never been this difficult" and the opposition needs to introspect and shift strategy to counter the BJP in the 2019 general elections.

Omar praised the Election Commission for what he described as "withstanding the pressure from the Centre".

"That Ahmed bhai has won is a very welcome development but it should have never been this difficult. Introspection & (and) strategy shift warranted,' the National Conference (NC) working president wrote on Twitter.

"How much more evidence do we require to understand that we opposition parties are up against a ruthless, finely tuned BJP political machine," he tweeted.

On the EC's role, he said in another tweet that the organisation "withstood the pressure of five senior cabinet ministers to deliver a verdict that was a crushing blow to the BJP."

PM Narendra Modi is speaking in Parliament on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Quit India movement. Both the Houses of the Parliament today are holding a special session to mark the occasion.

"This is a special occasion - we remember the Quit India movement. Remembering such movements gives us strength. It is important for the younger generation to know about historical events like the Quit India movement. The Quit India movement marked rise of a new leadership. They supported Mahatma Gandhi during the movement," the PM said. 

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will hold the treasury bench of the Lower House while Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will lead the treasury bench of the Upper House.

The Parliament will suspend the Question Hour and Zero Hour to make way for this special session.

All the parties are also expected to express their views on the same, with the discussion culminating into a resolution that will be passed in order to reaffirm their commitment to the nation.

The Quit India Movement also known as the India August Movement in August 1942, during World War II, demanding an end to British Rule from India.

Tajender Singh Luthra, Director General of Police (DGP), Chandigarh, today informed that both the accused in the Chandigarh stalking case had refused to give their blood and urine samples for the investigation.

"The duty doctor did want to take the blood and urine sample, but the accused are law graduates, they knew the law very well. Therefore, they refused to give the blood and urine sample," DGP Luthra said.

He, however, added that such a refusal shall be held against them in the investigation and during the trail.

DGP Luthra assured that the investigation will not take much time and everything under the sun will be done to reach the justice.

"We have captured the CCTV footage from six different places and that clearly indicates that the accused were chasing the car of the girl. We have enough information for now, additional evidence will be welcomed," he said.

Luthra also highlighted that the investigation has now reached a critical stage and that is why both the accused- Vikas Barala and Ashish Kumar, have been summoned to appear before the police today.

"They have been asked to appear at 11 am today. They will be interrogated once they will come and after that further course of investigation will be decided," he said.

Earlier in the day, Vikas Barala, son of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Haryana chief Subhash Barala, who is an accused in the stalking case Varnika Kundu in Chandigarh, was summoned by the Chandigarh Police.

The Chandigarh Police has asked Vikas to appear before the Station House Officer (SHO) of Sector-26 Police Station at 11 a.m. 'sharp' on Wednesday.

The notice been issued under 160 Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the case has been filed against Barala under Section 354D (stalking), 341 (wrongful restraint), 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 185 MV Act (rash driving).

On Tuesday, Subhash Barala for the very first time broke his silence on the matter and asserted that he is not using his political influence to pressurize the investigation in the matter.

He further said the victim Varnika Kundu, who was stalked by his son, is like his daughter and he will cooperate to bring justice to her."Investigation is being done in Varnika Kundu case.

Whatever action is required it will be taken against Vikas in this case. BJP bats for daughter's freedom and Varnika Kundu is like my daughter. Neither I nor BJP is pressuring anyone in this matter," he told ANI exclusively.

The Congress has accused the BJP of hatching conspiracy and pressurizing Chandigarh administration to protect the son of Haryana BJP chief.

Maratha rally: Children of farmers who committed suicide have come to Mumbai to support the silent march, reports IBN Lokmat. Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar was allegedly manhandled by protesters at Azaad Maidan in Mumbai. According to reports, this incident happened when the BJP leader was at the spot for lending his support for the morcha. However, the protesters stopped him from entering the venue of the morcha and told him to come only after the community gets reservation. Until 10 am, there were more than 10,000 people at the morcha. There is also a huge deployment of police force. While protesters are pouring in from various parts of Maharashtra, there is also a huge section of them who have camped at Azaad Maidan, the last stop for all protesters. The overall turnout may break the record set by gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli, whose rally had attracted about one lakh people, reports IBN Lokmat. Traffic on the Western Express Highway moving slowly, but many sections of the Eastern Express Highway completely blocked. More than five lakh Marathas are expected at Azad Maidan for the Maratha Kranti Morcha or "Muka Morcha" (silent march). They are demanding reservations for the community. The silent March will start at 11 am and end at 5 pm.



Image: Marathas at the rally in Mumbai. Pic: Sahil Salvi.

In Tamil Nadu, fishermen in Pudukottai district announced indefinite strike from today urging immediate release of fishermen and their boats by Sri Lanka.


The Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 49 fishermen from Tamil Nadu yesterday and detained their 12 fishing boats.Fishermen from Pudukottai Ramanathapuram districts of Tami Nadu were apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy when they were fishing in Lankan waters.


Tamil Nadu fishermen say that they should be allowed to fish in traditional waters of Palk Straits.Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edapady K Palanisamy in a letter urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and secure the release of 64 fishermen from Tamil Nadu lodged in Lankan jail and 125 mechanised boats detained by Lanka.


He pointed out that subsidy scheme to buy long liners for deep sea fishing was launched by the Prime Minister at Rameswaram.

More than five lakh Marathas will be gathering at Mumbai's Azad Maidan for the 58th Maratha Kranti Morcha or "Muka Morcha" (silent march) to ask for reservations for the community. The silent March will start at 11 am and end at 5 pm.

Mumbaikars are expected to face massive traffic jams as lakhs of people from across Maharashtra are expected to attend the protest march, seeking reservations in jobs and education for the Maratha community.

People have started to gather at BMC's Jijamata Udyan in Mumbai's Byculla from where the rally will begin and go on to Azad Maidan in south Mumbai. The protesters are expected to disperse around 5pm.

The JJ flyover will be closed for traffic in view of the morcha, police said.
Schools in south Mumbai are closed as a precautionary measure, an official said.

The BMC has razed a railing of Azad Maidan to create a wider entrance for protesters and merge the venue with the Bombay Gymkhana ground so that more people can be accommodated.

Mobile toilets, drinking water facilities and medical camps have been set up along the rally route -- Byculla zoo to Azad Maidan.

JJ Hospital will deploy three ambulances in the island city. An entire ward with 25 beds has been kept on standby at the state-run hospital. The BMC's disaster cell management has also asked private hospitals to remain ready for emergencies.

The morcha is expected to take a toll on the city, especially the traffic and the public transport system, as the protesters who are camping at APMC in Navi Mumbai and Anand Nagar in Thane, will take buses and trains to reach the island city.  -- Agencies


Image: Vehicles at a standstill at the Eastern Express Highway near Thane.

A 7-magnitude earthquake jolted a remote but popular tourist destination in China's southwest on Tuesday night, killing at least seven people and injuring nearly 90, the state media reported, with officials fearing the death toll could be much higher.

The massive quake struck Jiuzhaigou tourist spot with its epicentre at Zhangzha town in Sichuan Province, said the publicity department of the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, which administers the province.

Citing a China Earthquake Networks Centre (CENC) statement, the Xinhua news agency reported that the earthquake struck at 9.19 PM (local time) at a depth of 20 kilometres.

At least 107 aftershocks had been recorded by 11 pm local time), according to the CENC.

The provincial government office said that seven people had died and 88 were reported injured following the quake. But officials feared the death toll could be much higher as rescue work peaks on Wednesday, state-run television reported.

All the dead were tourists, it said. The condition of 30 injured was stated to be critical. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang have called for all-out efforts to organise relief and rescue. Local governments have activated top-level emergency response procedures. The Western Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has also activated an emergency response.

Thirty three people carrying communication equipment including maritime satellites have been rushed to the region.

Eleven helicopters and more than 40 vehicles were ready for rescue operations, the news agency reported. More than 600 fire officers and soldiers, and eight sniffer dogs were dispatched to the region after the quake.

The China Earthquake Administration has activated level-I emergency response procedures following the earthquake. China has a four-level earthquake emergency response system, with level-I being the top. -- PTI

'Satyamev Jayate. Not just my victory. Its defeat of most blatant use of money power,muscle power&abuse of state machinery,' tweets Ahmed Patel.

JUST IN: Congress leader Ahmed Patel retains his Rajya Sabha seat from Gujarat, reports ANI.

The result came soon after the counting of votes was restarted after being stopped for a while..

It was stalled for a while after the Bharatiya Janata Party claimed two more Congress MLAs violated rules by showing ballots to unauthorised people.

The BJP's objection came soon after the Election Commission declared votes of two Congress MLAs, who cross-voted to BJP, invalid after the Congress complained that they showed it to unauthorised people. -- PTI, ANI

Nalin Kotadiya, an MLA form Gujarat Parivartan Party which was merged in the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2014, says he cross-voted for Congress candidate Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha polls.

He put out a video on social media accepting that he voted for Patel.

He also claimed that there could be more cross-votes from the BJP.

The result of the poll is expected shortly.

IMAGE: Congress leader Ahmed Patel after casting vote for the Rajya Sabha election at the Secretariat in Gandhinagar on Tuesdsay. Photograph: PTI Photo

More comments from Gujarat deputy CM Nitin Patel on EC decision:

"Our polling agent raised the issue immediately but we thought it is for EC to decide further on it. I demand EC to make CD public. If required we will take legal action."

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel terms Election Commission decision 'wrong'.

"The decision is sad. If the CD of voting is made public, not just us the whole nation will say the decision is wrong," Patel said.

"Shaktisinh Gohil ji was angry when MLA showed him his vote, he is visibly angry; tried to snatch the ballot paper. Shaktisinh Gohil has seen the CD himself also and knows that he stood up in anger," Patel said.

"I believe they already had plans since yesterday to make this fabricated story and conspiracy," he said. -- ANI