Patidar protest effect on civic poll: No candidate to contest with BJP symbol in Unjha

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Unjha has been one of the hotspots of the Patidars’ stir for reservation. Following the violence after the Patidar rally on August 25, many BJP leaders were forced to leave public events in the area owing to protests by community leaders. Even sitting BJP MLA of Unjha, Narayan Patel, had gone on a day-long fast to protest alleged police atrocities on Patidars.

Returning Officer for the Unjha Nagarpalika V A Asari confirmed that no candidate has filed nomination on the BJP symbol, while only six candidates filed their candidatures under the Congress symbol. Narayan Patel said, “Looking at the situation, we had represented before the party high command not to field our candidates on party symbol. People have put up boards in their localities denying entry to political parties. Also, people (Patidars) reach any public event of political parties and stage protests.” “Our representation was accepted by the party and accordingly not a single candidate has filed nomination under the BJP symbol,” he added.

Rushikesh Patel, Visnagar MLA and BJP’s party-in-charge for the local body elections in Mehsana district, echoed Patel.

“In the previous Unjha Nagarpalika election too, BJP had fielded 21 candidates under the party symbol and the remaining seats were contested as Independent candidates by our partymen.” He admitted that the decision not to field a single candidate on party symbol was due to the ongoing Patidar agitation.
The Patidar reservation stir had turned violent for the first time in Visnagar on July 24 this year. During that violence, Rushikesh Patel’s office was also attacked by Patidar protesters.