Ahmedabad, 29 November 2012

Sitting BJP MLA of Mahuva Dr. Kanubhai Kalsaria who has floated Sadbhavana manch to field five candidates in Bhavnagar district including himself on Gariadhar seat is unhappy with Congress party.

In a talk with local newspaper, Dr. Kalsaria expressed his disappointment with Congress and Gujarat Parivartan Party in these words: The world is complex and difficult, promises are kept only upto some level, party politics rules.

Dr. Kalsaria said he had declared two years back that he would not contest on Mahuva seat again. Later talks were on with Congress party for Talaja and Rajula seats. But at both the places the local Congress units were not ready to sacrifice their own chances and give space to him. In such circumstances, Gariadhar seat was chosen for his candidature. The Congress party had promised that it would not field candidate against him in Gariadhar, but they fielded their candidate on last minute.

Dr. Kalsaria said he left Mahuva and selected Gariadhar seat because most of the villages of Mahuva taluka were merged with Gariadhar seat after new delimitation in effect. On Gariadhar seat, around 94000 votes are on Mahuva side, while 89000 votes are on Gariadhar side. While on Mahuva side, Dr. Kalsaria believes he is strong, on Gariadhar side he has to attract the voters against the candidates of BJP, Gujarat Parivartan Party and Congress.

Dr. Kalsaria said the caste factor would not impact his chances, because people are likely to go to accept him as a person.

Dr. Kalsaria came out open against his own party’s government to oppose construction of Nirma cement plant on water body land. He received overwhelming support of local people on this issue. In the course of his fight against Nirma plant, he came closer to socialists and Congress men. On the direction of Rahul Gandhi, the Youth Congress supported Dr. Kalsaria’s agitation. Dr. Kalsaria neither left BJP, nor joined Congress but float his own Sadbhavana manch and won local Taluka Panchayat body with support of Congress. Dr. Kalsaria and his supporter former MP Sanat Mehta tried best to convince Congress and Gujarat Parivartan Party to leave five seats for Sadbhavana manch, but were unsuccesful in getting any assurance.