MLA Jetha Bharwad seeks place in ministry

Trouble seems to not end early for the BJP whose MLAs have turned rebel as they were not included in the cabinet by CM Vijay Rupani.

Shehra MLA Jetha Bharwad has been sulking since the day of swearing-in and skipped wishing any of the members in the cabinet including CM. He reached party office Shri Kamalam in Gandhinagar on Wednesday with his 50 odd supporters, and staked claim for the position in the cabinet.

Besides him, Godhra BJP MLA and Congress’ turncoat CK Raulji is unhappy after he was not included in the cabinet.

A senior BJP leader said on condition of anonymity, “Raulji had expressed his displeasure with CM and also threatened that he would resign and leave BJP, if he was not included in cabinet. He also said that he had joined BJP to become minister and not to remain MLA only what he was in Congress.”

Bharwad, the MLA from Shehra constituency in Panchmahals district was booked under criminal cases like attempt to murder, rape, extortion, kidnapping and inducing a woman to compel her for marriage among others. Bharwad had allegedly opened fire and injured four people at Tarsang village during polling on December 17, 2012. He was detained but had fled from the hospital and later courted an arrest. The MLA has not been convicted so far in any of above cases. Bharwad could not be reached for his comment.