Surat councillor takes on leadership

Not satisfied with the councillor8217;s reply, Naik wrote to the State president Rajendrasinh Rana, recommending his expulsion from the party. Last Saturday, a member of the State Disciplinary Committee, Govind Chauhan, came to the city but Nimje did not meet him as he was reportedly out of station.

But Naik is not buying his argument. He says Nimje has been avoiding to meet the state leader because his is guilty8217;. Nimje, however, claims that he had gone to Nashik when Chauhan was in town. 8220;I did not get the notice. Therefore I could not go to meet him,8221; he claims.

The party president, however, claims that the notice to appear before the disciplinary committee was given well in advance. The chief whip of SMC Hansmuk Johani had gone his house to give the notice. According to Naik, Nimje was very much in town on Saturday. Otherwise a news story carrying his statement would have not appeared in vernacular press on Sunday.

Talking to Express Newsline, the BJP city general secretary Kanubhai Joshi said the party had given 8220;ample opportunity8221; to Nimje to present his case but he has not utilised the opportunity.