The announcement was made by the party's Gujarat in-charge Ashok Gehlot in New Delhi
Young Patidar leader and MLA from Amreli, Paresh Dhanani, has been appointed as the Congress Legislature Leader (CLP) and Leader of Opposition in Gujarat, the party announced on Saturday.
The announcement was made by the party's Gujarat in-charge Ashok Gehlot in New Delhi.
"Congress president Rahul Gandhi has approved Paresh Dhanani's name as the CLP leader. His name was unanimously proposed by all Congress MLAs during the meeting," Gehlot announced after meeting the party president.
Dhanani has the enviable record of beating three BJP heavyweights in each of his election victories. In 2002, he had defeated senior BJP leader Parshottam Rupala from Amreli seat. Dhanani had lost to another senior leader Dileep Sanghani in 2007 polls, but had avenged the loss by defeating Sanghani in 2012. In 2017 polls, Dhanani defeated former minister Bavku Undhad.
Elected to the state assembly for the third time in the recently held elections, the 41-year-old was widely expected to be the Chosen One.
The loss of the Congress's entire top leadership, plus the fact that he belongs to the Patidar community, and hails from Saurashtra, a region where the party won most of its seats, made him the obvious choice. However, the party had delayed making a formal announcement of Dhanani's name as several other MLAs such as Kunvarji Bavaliya and Vikram Madam, influential leaders in their respective communities, had also thrown in the hat, and staked claim as leader of opposition. Ten-term MLA Mohansinh Rathwa was also seen as a contender.
"The party has shown its aggressive intent by appointing Paresh Dhanani as the leader of opposition. It is also a signal to senior leaders that decisions will be taken based on performance, and not seniority alone," said a party leader, requesting anonymity.
Kunvarji Bavaliya, meanwhile, is reportedly unhappy with the party for being overlooked. "I will meet supporters tomorrow. If any community has been meted out injustice, the party will suffer in 2019," Bavaliya told a news channel shortly after Dhanani's name was formally announced.
MORE ON THE LOP
- Dhanani has defeated three BJP heavyweights in each of his election victories
- In 2002, he beat senior BJP leader Parshottam Rupala from Amreli
- In 2012, he trounced Dileep Sanghani
- In 2017, Dhanani defeated former minister Bavku Undhad
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