No respite yet for Gujarat BJP from dissidents

Dissidents of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continued to throng the party's office at Khanpur for the second consecutive day. Some met party officials and represented their case, while some others chose to make it a public protest. Besides, some ward-level officials also tendered resignations to show their dislike for the probable candidates.

Taking into consideration the magnitude of protests against Juna Vadaj ward's BJP president Harshad Thakor being selected, the party had to change the candidate with Mukesh Mistry, said sources.  Moreover, in Naranpura ward also, Sadhana Joshi’s candidature also came under violent attack. In Naroda Road ward, ward-level officials tendered resignations against Dr Kanti Chunara's selection as candidate.

BJP workers from Ghatlodia, Bapunagar, Vejalpur, Bodakdev, Isanpur, Naroda, Naroda Road and other wards assembled at the BJP office at Khanpur, and met the party leaders present in the office. Supporters of Nolesh Patel, former president of Ghatlodia Nagarpalika and a close aide of Amit Shah, gathered in large numbers at Khanpur and demanded justice. "We are demanding a ticket for Noleshbhai as development of the ward is not possible without him," said Palak Patel, a supporter.

Although Ghatlodia is believed to be a BJP bastion, poor results for the party will not be surprising in case the party does not change its decision, said Bhavesh Patel, another supporter.
Supporters of Janaki Rajpur, incumbent BJP corporator from Bapunagar, protested against the party's decision to give a ticket to an outsider. "The lady selected by the party leaders belongs to Pune. So now, we will have to travel to Maharashtra to represent problems like drainage choke-ups," commented Nirav Thakur, a supporter of Rajpur's.

It was surprising that none of the senior leaders, except city BJP general secretary Chandraprakash Dave, was present in the office. However, even Dave appeared on the scene only for a brief while.

Saturday will be the day of judgment because it is the last day for filling nominations for corporation elections.