Hard luck of Gujarat assembly that figure of 182 never remains intact

Narendra Modi and MLA Bhushan Bhatt with late Shri Ashok Bhatt’s photo

Ahmedabad, 15 November, 2011

For last many years, Gujarat assembly regularly witnesses death of one of its members at regular interval and the figure of 182(that is the total number of seats) never remains intact for considerably longer duration.

So when last year Gujarat assembly Speaker Shri Ashokbhai Bhatt passed away, and later his son Bhushan Bhatt was elected as MLA to make the total figure of MLAs 182(and therefore complete), many MLAs were fearing who would be the next to day from 182.

If we look at the sequence of deaths of MLAs elected in 2007 December, Congress MLA Popatbhai Jinjariya was first to die on 2 May, 2009 due to poor health. After by-election was held in 6-month time period, BJP’s Vashrambhai Khorani succeded Jinjariya. But Khorani died on 3 November, 2009 suddenly due to heart attack without even attending a single day of assembly session. Again there was a by-election in Chotila in 6-month period, and the winner was Khorani’s son. So again the figure reached 182 in January 2010 when Khorani took oath.

But the figure of 182 remained intact for only few months. On 17 May 2010, Kathlal MLA Gautambhai Zala passed away in Ahmedabad’s private hospital due to illness. So the figure was again back to lesser than 182. When in September 2010 BJP candidate won Kathlal by-election and the figure again reached 182, in same month then Speaker and Khadia MLA Shri Ashokbhai Bhatt passed away. It was in February this year when Ashokbhai’s son Bhushan Bhatt was re-elected on senior Bhatt’s seat. So, again 182 figure was reached, but for how long?

Again in few months (November) period there’s new of another MLA’s death. Manasa MLA Mangaldas Patel is no more!

Narrated above is the story since 2007, but even before that this was the trend. 182 was never complete for long duration of time.