BJP loses power in Devgadh Baria Municipality after party leaders’ rebellion

Deputy Collector Hitesh Bhagora, who presided over the election on Monday, said, “All members were present to vote for the election to the president’s post. There were two candidates – Neil Soni and Dharmesh Kalal. Soni secured 16 votes while Kalal got eight… The elections were held in a fair and transparent manner.”

Held amid tight police deployment, the election did not occur without drama right after a majority of the 24 members had voted in favour of the no-confidence motion against Kalal on October 17, of which, six were BJP members while one BJP leader remained absent on the day of the no-confidence motion. The BJP had bagged a majority with 13 seats in February.

Following the no-confidence motion, Kalal approached the Gujarat High Court seeking a stay on the no-confidence motion, which was turned down, paving a way for the polls to be held. The suspended members of the BJP include Soni, Gopalsinh Zala, Nidhi Jain, Sarla Meda, Aruna Parmar and Pragnesh Mohaniya. On Monday, Soni also got support from Nidhi Jain, Mumtaz Shukla, Ayub Shukla, Madina Chanda, Mumtaz Bhikhawala, Madina Patel, Ayub Patel, Mohammad Taslim Ayub Patel, Amreen Parvez Mirza, Gaurangkumar Pandya and Sanofar Makrani.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Neil Soni said, “We were forced to pass a no-confidence motion against Kalal because he had failed to work towards the promises made to the voters… For instance, even the clock of the iconic clock tower of Devgadh Baria was not repaired for over seven months since it stopped working. We are BJP leaders, whether the party suspends us or accepts us back, we will work on the lines of the party ideology. The board formed today will continue to be a board of the BJP for us…”

Senior BJP leaders remained unavailable for comment.