Despite not having majority, BJP retains power in Kalavad

In the polling conducted in the presence of Jamnagar’s district supply officer NH Makwana, who was appointed election officer for Kalavad TP, Pansuriya and Jadeja secured eight votes each. Their Congress rivals could afford only six votes each as Daksha Savaliya and Atul Kamani, Congress members of Kalavad TP from Nana Vadala and Pipar seats respectively, did not attend the special meeting of the general board. The AAP has two members in the 18-member general board of the Kalavad TP. However, Daya Makwana, one of the AAP members who attended the election meeting, abstained from voting. Vasantben Chowatiya, the other AAP members of the TP did not attend the meeting.

As two Congress members skipped the election meeting and the AAP preferred to watch the power struggle from the sidelines, the BJP managed to retain power in the TP with the help of Parmeshwariba Jadeja, the lone independent member in the general board.

The elections were warranted after the two-and-a-half-year terms of Mukesh Dangariya and Narvijaysinh Jadeja president and vice-president of Kalavad TP respectively, ended Wednesday.

This is for the second time that the BJP managed to retain power in Kalavad TP in a dramatic fashion, despite not having a simple majority in the panchayat. In the general election to TP conducted in 2021, the BJP had managed to win seven seats, while the Congress had won eight.

The AAP had bagged two seats, while an independent candidate won a seat.

In the election to the posts of president and vice-president conducted soon after the general election, Dungariya and Narvijaysinh had polled eight votes each. Jariya and Kamani, the twin Congress candidates for president and vice-president posts respectively in that election, too, had polled eight votes each as APP members abstained from voting. In the subsequent draw of lots, Jariya and Kamani proved unlucky.

While Savaliya and Kamani could not be reached for a comment, sources said the two members were miffed with the Congress leadership. “Savaliya was the appropriate candidate for the post of president this election. Kamani supported her bid. However, Congress leadership chose Vasoya despite threats from Savaliya and Kamani that they would not vote in favour of any other Congress candidates. The party leaders didn’t budge,” said sources.

Jivan Kumbharvadiya, president of Jamnagar district unit of the Congress, could not be reached for a comment.