Rajkot: BJP leader removed from civic body amid row over housing allocation

At an event organised on March 7 and virtually presided over by the Chief Minister, the RMC conducted a draw of lots and allotted 193 flats to residents of Sagarnagar, Manchhanagar and Kabir Tekari slums. The slum-dwellers were allotted 1 BHK flats, constructed in the Gokulnagar area of the city, under the Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) and adjoining Ambawadi under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

Hours later, RMC received complaints that the 193 beneficiaries included Mansukh Jadav, husband of Devu Jadav, and her other family members. On Saturday, Congress submitted a memorandum to Rajkot Municipal Commissioner Anand Patel alleging that 12 flats were allotted to Devu’s family and six to relatives of Vaji Goltar, the BJP corporator from RMC Ward No. 5.

Led by Congress Rajkot city unit president Atul Rajani, the Opposition submitted one more memorandum to the Commissioner demanding action against 19 people whom the party accused of getting houses based on forged documents. “The BJP corporators misused their powers to get RMC flats in their family members’ names,” Rajani alleged.

However, Mukesh Doshi, president of the BJP’s Rajkot city unit, told reporters that the party has instructed Devu to step down as the chairperson of RMC’s Acts and Rules Committee, pending an inquiry by the RMC and that she has complied. “After the allegations, we have sought and got her resignation and it has been sent to the office of the Rajkot Mayor,” Doshi told The Indian Express, adding, “The BJP felt that it won’t be appropriate for Jadav to hold the office of the chairperson of Acts and Rules Committee when allegations are levelled against her.”

When asked why no action was taken against Goltar, the BJP leader said, “We have got direct evidence against Jadav, and therefore, have asked her to step down, pending findings of an inquiry ordered by the RMC in the matter. On the other hand, Goltar is not holding any RMC office. But if evidence is found against her, we shall take action against her also.” Doshi added that Jadav has been barred from attending any events of the RMC or the BJP until further instructions.

The BJP has maintained a stranglehold over the RMC over the past four decades. In the 2021 election, the party won 68 of 72 seats of the RMC.

Devu Jadav could not be reached for comment. Rajkot Mayor Nayna Pedhadiya told The Indian Express that she was away in Gandhinagar to receive an award, and wasn’t briefed about the incident.

Meanwhile, Municipal Commissioner Patel said he has constituted a committee headed by a deputy municipal commissioner to look into the allegations. He said that RMC wants to develop Randarda Lake and a lion safari park on the eastern bank of the water body near Pradyuman Park Zoo. However, the western bank of the lake has been encroached upon by Sagarnagar, Manchhanagar and Kabir Tekari slums.