BJP rebel MLA Kalsaria fields six candidates

The BJP's rebel MLA Kanubhai Kalsaria and five of his supporters today filed nomination papers for Gujarat Assembly polls under the banner of recently-floated `Sadbhavana Manch'.

Kalsaria, a sitting MLA from Mahuva, is going to contest from Gariadhar in Bhavnagar district.

After launching a successful agitation against the state government's nod to the Nirma Cement factory in Mahuva, Bhavnagar, Kalsaria floated his own outfit. He voted against BJP-supported candidate in the presidential election.

Others from the Manch who filed the nomination papers today were Shivrajsinh (Savarkundla), Narsinhbhai Chauhan (Rajula), Bharat Thakar (Mahuva), Dr Manharbhai Baldania (Talaja) and Prakash Patel (Choryasi).

Congress and Keshubhai Patel's Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP), with whom Dr Kalsaria was in talks for seat-sharing arrangement, have kept silent on whether they would support Kalsaria's candidature. Tomorrow is the last day for filing of nominations for first phase of elections.