The bitterness of campaigning gave way to mutual respect as senior BJP leader Vijay Rupani bowed to touch feet of his Congress rival Jayanti Kalariya after winning Rajkot West bypoll on Sunday, but the latter stopped him midway, drew the BJP leader closer and gave him a hug. After the counting got over with Rupani posting a victory by 23,740 votes, the BJP leader emerged from the costing hall at SV Virani High School in the city. He was followed by septuagenarian Kalariya, a former minister. Kalariya stopped by Rupani, who was acknowledging cheers of BJP workers, to congratulate him. But Rupani told Kalariya that he would touch the senior politician’s feet and seek his blessings. A humbled Kalariya protested, but 58-year-old Rupani had already reached knees of his 70-year-old rival by then. Eventually, Kalariya drew Rupani closer and gave a hug before posing together with the victorious candidate for photographs. The scenes of mutual respect wiped off memories of a high voltage and often bitter campaigning during which party workers had sought to paint rival candidates in bad light. It had begun with alleged torching of an election office of Congress days before polling. Local Congress leaders, who had made low and order a poll issue, alleged BJP workers were behind the incident. But BJP had hit back saying it was a handy work of Congress workers to get publicity. Both Rupani and Kalariya had met city police commissioner and demanded a probe. This was followed by circulation of pamphlets attempting character assassination of Rupani. After BJP filed a complaint, police had booked a Congress worker and also claimed that Congress MLA from Rajkot East, Indranil Rajyaguru was under their lens in connection with the offence.
