The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Gujarat): In a recent turn of events, BJP’s chosen representatives for the Lok Sabha constituencies of Vadodara and Sabarkantha in Gujarat have announced their decision to not participate in the forthcoming general elections, attributing their withdrawal to personal reasons. Ranjan Bhatt, the incumbent MP from Vadodara, expressed her disinterest in contesting the elections despite being the party’s initial pick. Her decision was mirrored by Bhikhaji Thakor, the candidate for Sabarkantha, who also opted out of the electoral race, sharing his decision via Instagram.
These withdrawals come at a critical time for the BJP, which had previously dominated all 26 seats in Gujarat, the prime minister’s home state, in both the 2014 and 2019 elections. Bhatt’s choice to step down followed visible opposition to her nomination within the party, culminating in public expressions of dissent and criticism from some local BJP leaders. Despite winning the Vadodara seat in a by-election in 2014 and being re-elected in 2019, Bhatt faced backlash that led to her decision to not seek re-election, stating that defamatory actions by a few individuals against Vadodara influenced her decision. She made her stance known through social media, asserting that her withdrawal was not due to any single event but a broader concern for the city’s reputation.
On the other side, Ami Ravat of the Congress pointed to discontent and allegations of corruption within the BJP as reasons for Bhatt’s withdrawal, suggesting that it reflected poorly on the party’s internal democracy and could impact its performance in the upcoming elections. The opposition also criticized Bhatt for failing to address the needs of her constituency, hinting at a potential victory for Congress in light of the BJP’s troubles.
Jyoti Pandya, a former vice president of the BJP’s women’s wing who had previously resigned in protest of Bhatt’s nomination, viewed the withdrawal as a victory for those who sought positive change in Vadodara. She credited the collective efforts of the community and the response from the prime minister to the concerns raised, illustrating the impact of unified action for the common good.
