Three Congress MLAs who are contesting as Independents after they were denied tickets by the party have now got the support of none other than former party stalwart Jinabhai Darji — also known as the person behind KHAM (Kshatriya, Harijan, Adivasi and Muslim) theory.In a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the 84-year-old has written: ‘‘I have demanded nothing in my 60 years of service to the party. I humbly request you to rethink the allotment of tickets in the tribal belt of Vyara, Mandvi and Bardoli. If you are unable to sort out this issue, permit me to support the right candidates who are contesting independently.’’Speaking to The Indian Express, Darji said: ‘‘The way in which Assembly tickets have been allotted in Vyara, Mandvi and Bardoli is imperfect.”Darji accused the Congress of indulging in favouritism by denying tickets to Mandvi sitting MLA Ishwarbhai Vahia, Vyara sitting MLA Pratap Gamit and Kuwarji Halpati from Bardoli, all of whom filed nominations as Independents yesterday.The party has fielded Congress Legislature Party leader Amarsinh Chaudhary’s son Tushar from Vyara, Chhitu Gamit from Mandvi and Anil Patel from Bardoli. ‘‘Chhitubhai Gamit lost the voters’ confidence after the Vyara and Dadaria sugar factories were closed. Hundreds of tribal farmers were rendered jobless,’’ pointed out Darji.Alleging that Pratap Gamit, who has a strong support base in Vyara, had been rejected to make way for Chaudhary’s son, Darji said: ‘‘This will hurt the party’s poll prospects.’’ In Bordoli too, which is dominated by Halpatis, fielding Patel would affect the party, he added.On the third Independent, Darji said: ‘‘He’s been with the party for almost 30 years and has a clean record.’’He added: ‘‘I have campaigned for the party on bicycles. Today, these leaders use mobile phones and AC cars. I have worked in this tribal belt for 60 years and know what people think. If we have to keep fascist elements like Narendra Modi and Pravin Togadia at bay, the party must select the right candidates.’’Darji, who is credited with bringing former chief ministers Madhavsinh Solanki and C.D. Patel into the Congress fold, retired from politics following the Narsimha Rao government’s ‘‘inept handling of the 1992 communal riots’’. He was chairman of the 20-point development programme formulated by Indira Gandhi.
