Vitthal Radadia meets Narendra Modi

By our correspondent, Ahmedabad, 24 February 2013

Former Congress MP and present Congress MLA Vitthal Radadia met Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today. Radadia may make announcement to join BJP in next two-three days. Radadia’s son Jayesh Radadia also is Congress MLA. He too will leave Congress to join BJP along with his father.

On Vitthal Radadia

-Radadia is originally a BJP man.

-He left BJP with Shankersinh Vaghela in late 90s.

-He joined Congress later with Vaghela.

-Changing party banner hardly made any difference to Radadia, as he had ability to win the election in rural Rajkot belt from any party.

-Radadia stayed with Congress as MLA and in 2009 he contested parliament election from Porbandar Lok Sabha seat and won the poll. He left his Dhoraji assembly seat and fielded his son Jayesh Radadia to contest from there. His son won the poll and became MLA. So here was father as MP and son as MLA. ( Click here )

-Among all MPs in India, Radadia was no. 3 in facing highest number of criminal cases. (Click here)

-Radadia came to national limelight when he showed a gun at toll tax booth on a highway near Vadodara. He refused to pay toll tax and fought with security person and manager. A case was filed against him, but he was never arrested.

-Modi in couple of public meeting soon after the toll tax booth incident stayed away from criticizing Radadia, but criticized Congress for not come to rescue of Radadia when he was being attacked all over in the media for gun waving incident. Modi said while Congress party overwhelmingly came out in force to rescue Jamai (Rober Vadra), none from the party said a word to rescue Radadia in media.

-This was a signal of Modi’s soft approach for Radadia.

-Vitthal Radadia is Leuva Patel by caste and he is in good terms with Keshubhai Patel.

-Radadia’s induction to union ministry was certain, but he was hoping for that, but after gun waving incident, his name was dropped. Radadia was upset with this ( Click here ).

-Radadia was fielded in Gujarat assembly elections from Dhoraji seat as per his wish ( Click here ). His son Jayesh was given ticket to contest from Jetpur by Congress party.

-While Radadia won with narrow margin on Dhoraji seat, his son Jayesh won with good margin in Jetpur.

-Congress wanted Radadia to resign from assembly seat and wanted him to continue as member or parliament, however Radadia was adamant and didn’t succumb to party’s wish and resigned from Porbandar Lok Sabha seat to continue as MLA of Dhoraji ( Click here ). Radadia’s resignation has invited by-poll for Porbandar Lok Sabha seat.

-Radadia was hoping that he would be made leader of opposition in Gujarat assembly, but Congress party gave a chance to more senior Shankersinh Vaghela ( Click here ).

-Before the local civic body elections, Radadia’s all major supporters in Dhoraji town left Congress and joined BJP. Radadia too fielded Congress candidates in such a way that Congress would not win Dhoraji’s civic body. Under the local leadership of Radadia, Congress just didn’t field candidates in Hindu areas in Dhoraji.

-BJP won Dhoraji local body poll.

-Radadia also extended behind-the-curtain help to BJP during panchayat elections.

-Radadia’s son dropped water related agitation in his Jetpur constituency and told people that BJP government had fulfilled their demand by starting reverse pumping water supply to Jetpur.

-Last week, Radadia met his supporters and asked their opinion on joining BJP. His most of the supporters assured support to Radadia wherever he goes.

-Radadia met Narendra Modi today at a training workshop of Gujarat BJP MLAs.

-Radadia senior and junior may make announcement on joining BJP in couple of days. They may resign from the assembly and may contest again on BJP tickets. Jr Radadia could be made minister of state eventually, while senior Radadia though unwilling, may be asked to contest Porbandar Lok Sabha by-poll on BJP ticket.

-Radadia chairs district level cooperative bank in Rajkot. He has good hold over rural Rajkot farmers. His political size was shrinking however in last few month due to aggressive hard work by local BJP men. Politically, he is a gain to BJP.

-BJP however will need to tackle Radadia’s ambitions, his independent nature in politics(not loyal to anyone but to his voters), and his anger that puts him and his party in trouble time-to-time.