Poll manager Amit Shah's fate depends on SC order, BJP nervous

For Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, former minister Amit Shah is a key man. Shah is known for his dexterous management of resources especially during polls. However, the Modi aide has remained in jail for 26 months till September-end over his alleged involvement in the Tulsiram Prajapati encounter case. But with the CBI preparing to approach the Supreme Court, Shah’s freedom may be curbed at the most crucial time. “We really need him in the slog overs,” the Times of India quoted a senior BJP leader as saying. The hearing in the case is on 23 November in the Supreme Court. The investigating agency may reach the apex court early and get the stay order on the proceedings of the case vacated, the Times of India report said. If the order is vacated before 23 November, the lower court can initiate proceedings against Shah allowing CBI to immediately rearrest the former minister of state. [caption id=“attachment_509243” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  AFP[/caption] With Gujarat going to polls on 13 and 17 December, the uncertainty over Shah’s availability during that time has become a worry for the BJP including Modi. The former minister is well-versed with the demographic set up of the state as he was the BJP representative before the Election Commission while delimitation was implemented, the Times of India report said.