BJP ‘strategically’ delays declaration of candidate for Junagadh seat

On condition of anonymity,a local BJP heavyweight said: “The high command is in no hurry to declare a candidate for the Junagadh seat. The party has strategically adopted a wait and watch policy. After delimitation,the cast equation is not ‘matching’ or ‘fitting’ with the party’s poll strategy. This is the main reason for the delay in declaration of the party’s candidate here.”

He said: “We have been asked by the party high command (read Chief Minister Narendra Modi) that we are to start working on poll related preparation. The candidate’s name will be declared at a suitable time. The name will be declared at any time,possibly even on the morning of April 9,the last day for filing the nomination form.”

According to a BJP office bearer,the Junagadh issue was discussed at a meeting chaired by Modi on Thursday in Gandhinagar.

He said Modi had instructed all concerned not to make any submission in this regard. “A sealed cover with the name of the possible candidate has already been handed over to the party high command,” he said.

On the other hand,the speculation within the Congress is on the rise that the party may reject its sitting MP Jashubhai Barad’s claim for the party ticket for the second consecutive term. If Barad’s claim is rejected then the name of the Congress candidate for Junagadh seat remains an unanswered question. According to Congress sources,the party leadership is in a dilemma over the issue. It is,however,learnt that in spite of the large opposition from within the party circle,Barad’s name is surfacing as the front runner.

In case he is not repeated for the second term,the party will opt for a Koli community candidate. The Koli community enjoys the largest chunk of voters,approximately 2.30 lakhs,and according to political experts,the “answer for the selection of the BJP candidate for Junagadh” lies here.