Kodinar Junagadh District News – Shilpa Vala Volleyball Master from Saurashtra

When the nearly six-feet-tall Shilpa Vala catches a flight to Kuala Lumpur to represent India in the Asian Youth Girls Championships starting on May 20, she will become only the second girl from Gujarat to represent the country in volleyball.

But in Kodinar Town, her small hometown in Junagadh District, people may not be surprised. Volleyball runs in her genes. So much so that her four other sisters too play competitive volleyball. Shilpa's younger sister Geeta is a blocker.

She didn't make the cut for Kuala Lumpur, but is among the standbys. Elder sisters Shobhna (now working in a private firm in Junagadh) and Varsha have represented Gujarat. The youngest, Chetna, has already played two sub-junior nationals. In fact, when Gujarat beat Himachal Pradesh to win the gold at the National School Games near Gwalior in 2007, the entire team comprised of the Vala sisters. Varsha, Geeta and Shilpa teamed up with their cousins Parita, Nehal and Alpa. Shilpa's uncle and Parita's father Varjagha Vala was the coach. Despite the natural talent, life has not been easy for the Vala sisters as their father Maraman Vala, a small farmer, could barely make ends meet. Besides, their conservative Rajput community did not appreciate women playing competitive sport. "People would gossip behind our backs about the short dresses we wore while playing volleyball," Shilpa says.

"Who will marry these girls, they would ask. How can their parents let them stay away from home for days together? There was also fear of our family being boycotted. But our parents only encouraged us."

"Though I am not well-educated, I knew my daughters would do well if they studied and played hard. So I decided to support them," says Vala who arrived at the Sports Authority of India centre in Gandhinagar on Tuesday to see his daughters at a camp held there.

The achievements of the girls have brought more acceptances for the family. "People come to meet us and ask about our experiences. Volleyball is very popular in our village so some even come for training. Things are changing," says Shilpa.

Kodinar Junagadh District News Samachar Gujarat India

Tight security in place for Kodinar bypoll, marine patrolling intensified.

Tight security arrangements have been made in the Kodinar Assembly segment for the bypoll to take place along with six other constituencies on Thursday.

The Junagadh district administration has identified 21 polling booths as hyper sensitive and 68 as sensitive. The Assembly segment accommodates 129 villages and 200 polling booths.

According to Superintendent of Police Maninder Singh Puwar, apart from Junagadh police personnel, forces from adjoining Porbandar, Amreli and Bhavnagar districts have been pressed into service to maintain law and order.

As many as 10 deputy superintendents of police, 17 inspectors, 49 sub-inspectors, 900 constables, 1,100 home guards and Gram Rakshak Dal jawans have been posted on election duty.

Besides this, three companies of the State Reserve Police and two of the border wing will also maintain vigil.

“With Kodinar being on the coastal belt, marine patrolling has been intensified for which two boats have been pressed into round-the-clock service. Besides, cellphone services providers in the district have been instructed not to circulate group SMS from midnight to 5pm on the polling day (Thursday),” said a senior police officer.

Junagadh City News Samachar Gujarat India

“BJP’s ban on Jaswant’s book improper, ineffective”, said Congress.

Gujarat Congress president Siddharth Patel termed the ban imposed by the state government on Jaswant Singh’s book on Partition as improper. Patel criticized the government’s decision while touring Saurashtra for the forthcoming Assembly by-polls. Patel accused BJP of double standards on the issue of ban on Singh’s book saying it has no impact anywhere.

“Whatever is going on in BJP is certainly going to affect national and state politics as well. We are heading towards gaining power in Gujarat,” said Patel during his brief stay at Junagadh on Saturday while campaigning for Kodinar by-polls.

He told The Indian Express: “Putting a ban on Jaswant Singh’s book is improper. In fact, BJP and its leaders need to change their ideology. BJP will have no impact anywhere in Gujarat or outside.”

At present, the Congress holds six of the seven Assembly seats that go for the by-polls. Patel said Congress intends to win all the seven seats. Earlier in the day, Patel inaugurated the Congress candidate’s central election office in Kodinar town in Junagadh district. “Our top priority is to win all seven assembly seats for which by-elections are scheduled next month,” he said.

Terming the Congress victory in the Junagadh Municipal Corporation election held recently as a significant success for the party, he said, “The BJP could not digest the defeat. Success in the JMC election will make much difference in the days to come.”

The Congress leader also drew attention to the fact that of the elections for 36 seats in various municipalities across the state, the Congress has already won four seats uncontested.

“For the first time, the BJP is unable to find candidates in the urban areas” he said.

Junagadh District News Samachar – Kodinar Town

Political activity picks pace for Kodinar Assembly bypoll. Even as the dates for the by-elections in seven Assembly constituencies are yet to be announced, political activity has picked up for the Kodinar seat in Junagadh district.

State Congress leaders have already completed a round for the same.

A team of party observers recently visited Kodinar and held a meeting with the local leaders.

District Congress unit President Jetha Jora said: “A team headed by state observer Shanta Chavda visited the town on Friday.” He added that local leaders, including former MLA Kodinar and Una Dhirsinh Barad, Punja Vansh and other office bearers of various Congress units were present at the meeting. According to sources, the party is divided into three groups, all suggesting candidates of their choice.

Sources added: “The observers will submit their report (on the possible candidates) to the state leaders. The name of Dhirsinh Barad has surfaced as a strong candidate.”

On the other hand, in the BJP, someone close to Kodinar-based Junagadh MP Dinu Solanki is likely to be fielded from the seat, according to party sources. Solanki was representing Kodinar in the state Assembly before being elected to the Lok Sabha.

“Kodinar is Solanki’s stronghold; winning the election here is considered to be a cakewalk for Solanki. So, the party will field a candidate recommended by him,” sources said.