Patidar stir is Congress’ proxy war: BJP

Water Supply Minister Vijay Rupani took a dig at Congress and accused it of using the reservation agitation as a front. “Congress doesn’t have issues to raise. This time they have used the reservation stir as a front. But, they have been exposed. They (quota stir leaders) had met Siddharth Patel. Their lawyer Mangukia is a Congress spokesperson,” said Rupani.

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He said BJP has given representation to 25 castes in the list of 72 candidates. However, Bhikha Vasoya, chief of BJP’s Rajkot city unit, said 20 Patidar candidates have been named by the party.

The Ahirs, the Dalits and the Brahmins come second with seven candidates each.

However, the outgoing general board had 23 Patidar corporators.  “The number of Patidar candidates have gone down due to delimitation and 50 per cent reservation to women,” said Kashyap Shukla, general secretary of BJP’s Rajkot city unit.

Congress declares candidates for  all but one RMC ward

Rajkot: Congress finally declared most of its candidates for the Rajkot Municipal Corporation elections, but wrangling continued between two groups over tickets for Ward No.14 till late Friday. The party left out six of its 11 sitting corporators from the list. Leader of Opposition in the RMC Gayatriba Vaghela, her predecessor Pravin Rathod, and former LoP Atul Rajani were among those who got party mandate to seek re-election to the civic body. Senior Congress corporator Vashram Sagathiya also figured on the list. ENS