Former Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Patel on Sunday said that he has withdrawn his claim to contest from Mehsana Lok Sabha seat. The BJP on Saturday released the first list of 195 nominees, including 15 from Gujarat, which sends 26 members to Lok Sabha.
In another setback for the Congress, senior leader and former MLA Ambarish Der is likely to join BJP in a day or two. He is a strong Ahir leader and enjoys a good following in the community and will influence four seats in the region. He is likely to be fielded from Bhavnagar.
According to the sources, the BJP is likely to field fresh faces in the majority of the remaining 11 seats. The performance of the incumbent MPs and caste factor will play a major role. In Ahmedabad (East) Hasmukh Patel is likely to be dropped. The east belt has Patel dominance and they are mostly from Saurashtra. Many seniors including former Home Minister Pradipsinh Jadeja have asked for the ticket but a new face is likely to be nominated, sources said.
Saurashtra, which has four seats, is the party’s stronghold and the saffron party wants to get the caste factor right. There are a majority of Patels, Koli and Ahir on these seats. Amreli is dominated by Patidars who have mostly migrated to Surat. The seat is represented by Naranbhai Kachadiya- a three-term MP. Sources said if he was to be given a ticket then his name would have been in the first list but now there is a possibility of change. Kaushik Vekariya- Amreli MLA is in the list of probable names besides Mukesh Sanghani, brother of Dilip Sanghani IFFCO chairman.
Junagadh seat will have a new candidate. Incumbent MP Rajesh Chudasma is not likely to be repeated as he is embroiled in the controversy surrounding Dr Rajesh Chug, a known local doctor.
A Koli candidate is likely and the name of Junagadh district panchayat President Kirit Patel is doing rounds. He is close to Amit Shah also.
In Bhavnagar, incumbent MP Bhavnaben Shiyal is likely to be dropped. In this seat, AAP leader Umesh Makwana is contesting as part of the seat sharing formula with Congress. This makes it mandatory for BJP to field a Koli candidate. Sources said Ambarish Der might be given a ticket after he joins the party.
Mahendra Munjpara, Surendranagar MP, has been non-controversial. In case he is replaced then a Patidar face is likely.
In South Gujarat, there is a possibility that sitting MPs Darshana Jardosh (Surat) and Dr K C Patel (Valsad) would be dropped. Former Surat Mayor Jagdish Patel and party’s Surat city President Ranjit Giletwala, former Surat city president Nitin Bhaijyawala and Hemali Bodhawala are said to be in contention.
In Valsad, 74-year-old K C Patel is embroiled in controversies. Valsad LS seat is reserved for scheduled tribes.
Sources said sitting MPs Ranjana Bhatt (Vadodara) and Geeta Rathwa (Chhota Udepur) have failed to deliver and the high command is not happy with their performance. In Vadodara names of external affairs minister S Jaishankar, former Commissioner of Police Rakesh Asthana and former MP Deepika Chikhalia (of television serial Ramayana fame) are doing rounds.
Also Read: Gujarat CM Applauds IPS Hasmukh Patel
Gujarat Ex-Deputy CM Nitin Patel Withdraws Candidature From Mehsana LS Seat; BJP yet to announce 11 names
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