Amreli might be the bastion of the BJP rebels, but it seems to be the Congress which is on a sticky wicket here. Local workers of the party have now raised their voice against the party giving tickets to any BJP rebel. If it is a sign of dissidence for the Congress, for BJP rebels it is a roadblock in their attempt to make a comeback to the Assembly. Amreli is the hometown of BJP rebels Babra MLA Bavku Ughad, Liliya MLA Bechar Bhadani, Dhari MLA Balu Tanti and Surat MLA Dhiru Gajjera. All of them have already sounded the Congress about their intentions to contest the seat. Given the fact that more than 150 Congress leaders, including taluka and district panchayat presidents, have also flashed the red signal, the Congress can hardly afford to ignore the voice of the workers. On Tuesday, the Congress leaders even submitted a protest letter to Amreli DCC chief C Thakarsinh. “It is the feeling of the grassroots leaders that the BJP rebels should not be given the tickets as it would be like doing injustice to several workers who have worked hard to strengthen the Congress against the BJP. They have submitted a memorandum to me which I have forwarded to the high command,” said Thakarsinh. While Thakarsinh has expressed a possibility that Congress leaders would respect the decision of the high command, speculation is rife that many of these 150 members were likely to walk over to the BJP at the mega convention to be presided over by Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Amreli on October 22.
