Kanubhai Dabhi is BJP candidate, and Ghelabhai Zala is Congress candidate for Kathlal assembly seat by election.

Both Kanubhai and Ghelabhai, filed their nomination on Wednesday afternoon.

Though Kathlal is traditionally a safe seat for Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party is all set to give strongest possible fight to win the seat this time.

“In general elections, we can’t focus on one seat, and apply our all strength, but when there is a by election, we can employ our all strength and energy. Lastly we won by elections of Chotila and Jasdan, the areas that were considered as Congress strong hold,” BJP leader told DeshGujarat.

By election of central Gujarat’s Kathlal assembly seat will be held on 13th of September.

The seat was vacant due to death of Congress MLA Gautam Zala.

The counting of Kathlal assembly seat by election will be held on 16 September.

Political ground of the election

There are as many as 27 OBC(other backward class) dominated villages of Thasra belt in Kathlal assembly seat area. Moreover in Chhipadi and Kathlal, the OBC Zala votes are dominant. Congress traditionally win on the bases of these votes.

BJP’s Kanubhai Dabhi lost Kathlal election by margin of 2,681 votes in 2007 Gujarat Assembly election. BJP has appointed former Agriculture minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama as in charge of this by election. Ex MLA Bharat Pandya and Kheda district BJP President Bimal Shah are also looking after the affairs.Congress has appointed Ramsinh Parmar as in charge of this election. Leaders like Shankarsinh Vaghela and Dinsha Patel are taking great interest in this election. Kathlal was part of Vaghela’s former Lok Sabha constituency Kapadwanj(which now no more exists). Union minister Dinsha Patel is sitting Kheda MP. While Vaghela wanted Ghelabhai Zala as candidate, Dinsha Patel wanted Kabhai Dabhi.

State Congress President Siddharthbhai Patel believes that his party will retain this safe seat. Patel says more turnout of voters will give more votes to Congress.