BJP suspends 8 members for defying mandate as rebel wins Kawant polls

The BJP on Thursday suspended eight members of Kawant taluka panchayat in Chhota Udepur district after they defied the party’s mandate issued to candidate Vinayak Gordhan Rathwa for the post of Taluka panchayat president, and instead voted for rebel candidate Pintu Vijay Rathwa, who won the seat with 19 votes in all.

The BJP, which managed to retain hold in most district and taluka panchayat elections on Thursday, faced embarrassment as rebel candidate Pintu Rathwa, who had filed his nomination on Wednesday in defiance of the party’s mandate, won with 19 votes including 10 votes from the Congress party.

In a letter issued by Upendrasinh Rathwa, president of the Chhota Udepur district BJP unit later on Thursday evening, Pintu Vijay Rathwa of 21-Samalvant seat was suspended along with seven others including, Ishwar Nagliya Rathwa (2-Dungargam), Shanya Bhil (10-Manka), Parul Navin Prajapati (Moti Tokri), Sagarkumar Ambu Vankar (16-Panvad), Veena Rasik Rathwa (19-Rumadiya), Kevli Jiten Rathwa (20-Saidivasan), Ramila Sukhram Rathwa (2-Bhumasvada) for “anti-party activity” as well as “disrespect of party mandate issued to the candidate” for the post of the president of the taluka panchayat.