BJP polls for city, district president’s post: Infighting among local leaders comes to the fore in Vadodara

Things took an aggressive turn when Shukla accused Talati of allegedly using ‘unparliamentary words’ for the rival faction while speaking to his supporters.

It was then, Talati aggressively defended himself, leading to a heated public argument between the two, questioning “values and morals” of each other’s factions.

While Shukla said that the comments made by Talati during his group discussion with supporters — videos of which have also gone public — were “reflective of values” of the faction, Talati retorted by saying that all leaders have the same value system of the party. Talati said, “The accusations she (Shukla) has made are baseless and it is mainly because she must be considering my nomination as a threat to their leader of choice”.

Shukla, however, responded: “I heard clearly when he (Talati) mentioned to his supporters what he was capable of, which was unparliamentary language… I believe if there has to be a leader to lead the Vadodara unit, it should be someone transparent like Dr Vijay Shah. Sometimes, change is not necessary”.While 44 aspirants have made a pitch before the election officer Kushalsinh Padheriya, the final decision will be taken by the state executive.

Padheriya said, “We have received 44 forms filled as per the guidelines of age, criminal record and party discipline. Now these forms will be sent to the sankalan (executive committee).. we will take opinions of the leaders and the elected representatives of Vadodara and then the party will decide and announce the names.”

Co-election officer, Dr Sanjay Desai said that geographical area and caste equations will be kept in mind before deciding a president. The two leaders hinted that the final call rested with the party and any leader, who may not have submitted a nomination could also be given the post, if the party felt necessary.

In Vadodara city, apart from Shah and Talati, the other aspirants include Jigar Inamdar, former Mayor Sunil Solanki, sitting general secretary Satyan Kulabkar, former corporator and general secretary Rakesh Patel and two former Mayors Dr Jigisha Sheth and Bharat Shah.
Bharat Shah said, “This is a democratic process of the BJP (which happens after) every three years. If they hand over the responsibility to me, I will keep a balance between administration and organisation because I have held posts in the VMC as Mayor and in the Standing Committee”.

In the Vadodara district unit, where the process went off smoothly compared to the city unit, 43 leaders have staked claim to become the president of the district unit. It includes current president and former Karjan MLA Satish Patel as well as current office bearer Yogesh Adhyaru, former district party president Ashwin Patel, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2022 Gujarat Assembly polls from Waghodia Assembly constituency has also pitched for the post along with former district panchayat president Ashok Patel of Por in Vadodara.

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