Achi news desk-
BJP fears a backlash.
– Photo: Amar Ojala
expansion
All is not well in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. On the one hand, BJP grassroots workers are openly opposing their Lok Sabha candidates, and on the other, veteran leaders of the party are fueling it behind the scenes. These are old leaders who were disabled by the party. Party workers say that the high command gives tickets according to its own. We are under pressure to make the party’s candidates win with record votes. There are many leaders in the fray in this election who have no grip. Here, BJP has also started trying to pacify the disgruntled members by holding meetings with them.
BJP won all 26 seats in 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. But this time the party had to replace two candidates due to opposition from its people. One of them is the seat of Vadodara. In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi won elections from Varanasi as well as Vadodara seat. While in 2019, BJP candidate Ranjan Bhatt won by five lakh votes. This time, due to the workers’ revolt, Bhat had to withdraw his candidacy. BJP then announced Himang Joshi as its candidate from Vadodara. Similarly, BJP first gave a ticket to Bhikaji Thakor from Sabarkantha seat, but due to displeasure of the workers, he had to return the ticket. After this, BJP nominated Shubana Baraya, wife of former Congress MLA Mahendra Singh Baraya, as its candidate, but the workers are also not happy about it.
Apart from this, BJP workers are also unhappy with the candidates in Surendra Nagar Lok Sabha, Junagadh, Porbandar and Amreli Lok Sabha seat. Chandu Shihura got ticket in place of sitting MP Mahendra Munjapara from Surendra Nagar seat. The Talpada Koli community with a population of more than five lakh is opposing this seat. Whereas Rajesh Chudasma is the candidate from Jungadh. BJP workers also oppose these. Khodasama’s name also appeared in the suicide letter of a Koli doctor. Recently there was an incident of fighting between two groups in a protest against giving a ticket to Bharat Sutriya from Amarli. Similarly, the party workers are also furious over the nomination of Union Minister Mansukh Bhai Mandaviya as a candidate for the coveted Porbandar seat. Activists say Mandaviya is an outside candidate.
