In what could signal the end of political career of Kashiram Rana, the veteran leader failed to find a place in the list of candidates released by BJP.
Finally, it’s official. In what could signal the end of political career of six-time Surat MP, Kashiram Rana, the veteran leader failed to find a place in the list of candidates for the coming Lok Sabha elections, released by BJP on Tuesday evening.
Considered the undisputed leader of BJP in south Gujarat - the person responsible for the strong position the party is in – and irreplaceable, no one would have thought that the party will field a candidate other than Rana from Surat. However, his influence within and outside the party was on the decline ever since Modi arrived in Gujarat as the chief minister.
Relations between Rana and Modi soured further when the former raised his voice against the CM’s style of functioning before the party high command. With Modi growing in stature, Rana later tried to make peace with him, but to no avail.
Of late, Rana is believed to have lobbied intensely before former prime minster AB Vajpayee. However, he had got the feel that he would not be renominated for the polls, and had almost resigned to it.
Talking to DNA recently, Rana had said that he would work for the party candidate if he was not fielded in the elections. He had also warned that such a move would cause resentment among his supporters.
While Kashiram Rana could not be reached as he was away in a function in New Delhi on Tuesday, sources close to him said the BJP’s decision not to nominate him for the elections was disappointing.
“Many people are disappointed at his omission, but there is not much that can be done,” a close aide of Kashiram Rana, said.
While it was almost certain that he would not get nominated from Surat Lok Sabha seat, Rana had tried hard to get the BJP ticket from the newly formed Navsari seat.
However, he was unsuccessful in securing the nomination. Pravin Naik, president of Surat City BJP, said they have to accept the party decision.
“When the BJP high command has decided to field a woman candidate instead of Kashiram Rana, we have to accept it. We are going to win this time too,” Naik said. #Interestingly, Naik was also in the race for the BJP ticket from Surat, and was considered the hot favourite.
Another BJP leader said he had sympathy for Rana, but he had committed a mistake by speaking against Modi, and was paying for it.
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