Gujarat: Kunvarji Bavaliya to demand more tickets for Koli candidates in Lok Sabha poll

The minister for water supplies and animal husbandry, Kunvarji Bavaliya, had convened the meeting of leaders from Koli community on Thursday at his residence in Gandhinagar. The crowd of hundreds of people thronged the minister's enclave that created excitement in political circles, especially in the BJP.

Bavaliya, who won the by-polls last month, is acquiring a great position in state politics being the Koli community leader. Last week, he took oath as the MLA after being elected in by polls and the reports of his elevation as deputy CM in Gujarat government also had become a talking point. Bavaliya, however, trashed the updates and held as a rumour, the meeting he convened on Thursday left many indications to party.

Coincidentally, PM Narendra Modi had posted a tweet with a photograph of his meeting with Bavaliya in New Delhi after the by polls and that gave impetus to Bavaliya gaining weight in government and BJP organisation as well.

Now, Bavaliya also got an invitation from BJP high command to attend the two days national executive to be held in New Delhi and the same has given another push to Bavaliya's image envisaged at national level too.

Bavaliya is also a president of All India Koli Community. He has a considerable hold over Koli community in Gujarat especially in Saurashtra region that has 35% vote share in OBC voters in the state. There are 45% voters from OBC community in Gujarat, and that means, Koli community may play a major role in Gujarat during Lok Sabha polls. The community directly influence six Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat and four MPs in Gujarat belong to the same community at present.