Latest news with #AshishPatel
The Print
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Behind Apna Dal (S) naming a Dalit UP chief, a bid to cut into BSP's voter base
Gautam, an old loyalist and the party's co-operative wing chief, has now taken up the responsibility. The 60-year-old hails from the Sitapur district, and has also been a Dalit rights activist and social worker for the past two decades. Earlier this month, the former state president, Raj Kumar Pal, had resigned from the position after accusing Anupriya and her husband Ashish Patel—a minister in Uttar Pradesh cabinet—of neglecting him and mistreating party workers. Lucknow: Union Minister Anupriya Patel's Apna Dal (Sonelal) appointed Jatav R.P. Gautam as the president of its Uttar Pradesh unit Thursday, in a move which is being viewed as the party's attempt to woo the Dalit community. The position of state president was previously held by an OBC leader (Pal), but now the party has picked a Jatav (segment of Dalit community) leader for the role for the first time in a bid to increase its outreach, according to party functionaries. 'This is the first time we have appointed a Jatav state chief, in line with our social engineering plan. We are hoping for positive results,' Ashish Patel told ThePrint. A senior functionary said, on the condition of anonymity, that the party wants to step out of the image of an OBC party. 'This move comes at a time when the support base of BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party), which is considered the first choice of Jatavs, has been shrinking for the last few years. Jatavs are looking for an alternative. So, our leadership has decided to focus on increasing its base. The population of Jatavs is above 12 percent in the state, which is significant in creating an impact in electoral politics,' the leader told ThePrint. Now, as the party focuses on the preparation for the upcoming local body elections this year and the 2027 assembly elections, Gautam has been given this big responsibility, he added. However, Apna Dal (S) is not the only party eyeing BSP's core vote bank. The Samajwadi Party's 'Pichda, Dalit, Alpasankhyak (backward-Dalit-minority)' plank got a big boost in April this year, following the induction of former minister and BSP founding member Daddu Prasad, along with a few other local BSP leaders. Before this, SP had inducted several BSP leaders last year, too. Additionally, SP's district units had also held a week-long 'Swambhiman Samman Samaroh' to mark the birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar this year. The aim was to reach out to prominent members of the Dalit community at grassroot level and felicitate them. Similarly, Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad-led Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) is also planning to expand their base, having completed the process of appointing local units in all 75 districts of the state. UP-based political analyst Shilp Shikha Singh explained that BSP's 'downfall' has opened up space for other parties in terms of the Dalit voter base. 'Every party has realised after Lok Sabha results in UP that there is scope to gain this 'loyal' vote bank of the BSP, as the old party is not able to perform well in polls. The grand celebration announcements on Ambedkar Jayanti last month have also given a hint that every party is eyeing Dalit votes. As of now, it seems like a smart move by a BJP ally (Apna Dal).' (Edited by Mannat Chugh) Also Read: Why Raj Kumar Pal stepped down as UP chief of Apna Dal (S), a '2-personality show'
Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Yogi: Bring private educational institutions in state under SIRF for uniform quality benchmarks
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday directed that private institutions in the state be brought under the State Institutional Ranking (SIRF) to maintain uniform quality benchmarks across the board. The CM, who chaired a review meeting of the Technical Education and Vocational Education departments, stressed that all technical institutions must actively participate in quality evaluations conducted by bodies such as the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), National Board of Accreditation (NBA), and National Institutional Ranking (NIRF). He, however, underlined the need for thorough preparation before applying for these accreditations to maintain excellence. Technical Education Minister Ashish Patel and Vocational Education Minister Kapil Dev Aggarwal were also present in the meeting. It was informed during the meeting that 1.64 lakh seats have been offered at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow, for the academic session 2024-25. The university has aligned its curriculum with the National Education Policy, 2020, introducing MOOC-based learning, a choice-based credit system, multiple entry and exit options and integrated programmes, it was claimed. The CM was apprised that in 2023-24 academic year, 12,739 students from the university secured employment, with the highest annual package reaching Rs 59.91 lakh. He instructed the officials to expedite recruitment for all vacant academic and non-academic positions. While reviewing diploma-level technical education, it was noted that 2,139 polytechnic institutes are currently functioning in the state. These include 147 government, 19 aided, 1,948 private and 18 institutions under the public private partnership (PPP) mode, with a total intake capacity of over 2.68 lakh students, officials said. At present, more than 1.15 lakh students are enrolled in these institutions, they added. Officials of the Department of Vocational Education and Skill Development informed that 324 government and 2,982 private ITIs are operational in the state. With support from Tata Technologies Limited, 212 government ITIs have been upgraded with modern laboratories and trained instructors. These institutions now offer both long-term courses and short-term skill development programmes, it was informed. For the 2024–25 academic year, nearly 1.25 lakh trainees have secured apprenticeship and employment opportunities. More than 30,000 students have also applied under the PM Internship Scheme. It was also noted that modern skill laboratories have been set up in at least 37 districts through corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions from reputed industrial units. The regular organisation of monthly placement drives has significantly boosted local employment, with more than 2.67 lakh apprentices placed over the past five years under the NPS and CMAPS schemes.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicago convenience store near O'Hare airport sells $3.1 million winning lottery ticket
The Brief Big win: A $3.1 million Ultimate Diamond Jackpot ticket was sold at Komal Wine and Liquor on Chicago's Northwest Side. The store gets a $31,000 bonus for selling the ticket. Excited store owner: Owner Ashish Patel says they don't know the winner yet but expect to find out soon, as most customers are regulars. Lottery details: The Ultimate Diamond Jackpot starts at $75,000 and grows until a winner is drawn. Illinois Lottery players have won over $17 million in prizes this year. ILLINOIS - A lucky Illinois Lottery player became a multimillionaire after purchasing a $3.1 million winning ticket at a Chicago convenience store. The convenience store, Komal Wine and Liquor, located at 4628 N. Cumberland Ave., does not yet know who the winner is but will receive a bonus for selling the winning ticket. What we know The winning Ultimate Diamond Jackpot ticket, worth $3,188,104, was sold Thursday at the store, which is on Chicago's northwest side near O'Hare International Airport. For selling the winning ticket, Komal Wine and Liquor will receive a 1% bonus—just over $31,000—according to Illinois Lottery officials. What they're saying "We are so happy for the winner and for our family business!," exclaimed Ashish Patel, owner of Komal Wine and Liquor. "We opened in 2015 and have become a popular convenience store in the neighborhood. In fact, all of our customers are locals who we see on a regular basis." Patel added, "While we have no idea who the winner is, I have a feeling we will know very soon. We know every customer who walks in the door, and they know each of us by name. I'm sure the winner will come into the store to share the news with us – and we can't wait! We are so excited for them." The backstory The Ultimate Diamond Jackpot is an Illinois Lottery Fast Play game. The jackpot starts at $75,000 and increases with each ticket sold until there's a winner, according to officials. Over $17 million in prizes have been won by Illinois Lottery players so far this year. For more information about the Ultimate Diamond Jackpot, visit the Illinois Lottery's website.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$3 million lottery ticket sold near O'Hare
CHICAGO (WGN) — A $3 million lottery ticket was sold on the Northwest Side near O'Hare International Airport last week, according to a spokesperson with the Illinois Lottery. The ticket, worth $3,188,104, was purchased on Thursday, Feb. 20 at Komal Wine and Liquor located at 4628 North Cumberland Avenue in the City's O'Hare neighborhood. 'We are so happy for the winner and for our family business!,' said Ashish Patel, owner of Komal Wine and Liquor. 'We opened in 2015 and have become a popular convenience store in the neighborhood. In fact, all of our customers are locals who we see on a regular basis.' Patel added, 'While we have no idea who the winner is, I have a feeling we will know very soon. We know every customer who walks in the door, and they know each of us by name. I'm sure the winner will come into the store to share the news with us – and we can't wait! We are so excited for them.' For selling the winning ticket, Komal Wine and Liquor will receive a 1% bonus of the prize amount, or just over $31,000. 'This is great news,' Patel said. 'We plan to put our bonus back into the business.' Daylight saving time 2025: Illinois among states trying to 'lock the clocks' The $3 million ticket was a part of Illinois Lottery's Ultimate Diamond Jackpot, a fast play jackpot game. The jackpot begins at $75,000 and grows with each ticket sold statewide—in-store and online—until the jackpot is won. Already this year, more than $17 million in prizes have been won by Illinois Lottery players with the Ultimate Diamond Jackpot game. The winner has one year from the date of the winning draw to claim their prize. The Illinois Lottery encourages the winner to write their name on the back of their winning ticket and keep it in a safe place until they're ready to claim their prize. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lucky lottery player wins over $3 million in Northwest Chicago
CHICAGO, Ill. (WMBD) — A jackpot-winning lottery ticket was sold at a neighborhood convenience store near O'Hare International Airport. The Ultimate Diamond Jackpot ticket, which won more than $3.1 million, was bought on Feb. 20 at Komal Wine and Liquor in northwest Chicago, according to a news release. 'We are so happy for the winner and for our family business,' the store's owner Ashish Patel said. 'We opened in 2015 and have become a popular convenience store in the neighborhood. In fact, all of our customers are locals who we see on a regular basis.' Patel added that due to knowing the customers by name, while he has no clue who won, he is sure that eventually the winner will go to the store and let them know who won the money. Since the winning ticket was sold at Komal Wine and Liquor, they receive a 1% bonus of the winning ticket, which is about $31,000, which Patel says will be put back into the business. The owners of winning tickets have up to a year from the drawing date to claim the prize money. The Illinois Lottery suggests that winners write their names on the backs of winning tickets and keep them in a safe place until they claim their money. 'Ultimate Diamond Jackpot is an Illinois Lottery Fast Play progressive jackpot game. The jackpot begins at $75,000 and grows with each ticket sold statewide – in-store and online – until the jackpot is won,' the release said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
