MLA Pravin Rathod is Congress candidate for Bhavnagar seat

Bhavnagar, 9 March 2014

Sitting Congress MLA from Palitana, Pravin Rathod today won the primary election held by his party for choosing its candidate for the Bhavnagar Lok Sabha constituency.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has introduced the system of internal elections, called primaries, to select candidates for 16 Lok Sabha constituencies in India including Bhavnagar and Vadodara in Gujarat.

The others in the fray were Jilla Panchayat member Digvijaysinh Gohil, Ghogha Taluka Panchayat president Jitu Vaghela and former MLA Natu Dabhi’s son, Jivan Dabhi.

Of the 858 Congress workers and local leaders who had registered themselves as voters, 576 votes were cast today.

“Rathod received 303 votes and was declared a clear winner. Gohil came second with 133 votes, while Dabhi and Vaghela came third and fourth respectively,” said Dr D B Raninga, president of Bhavnagar city and district Congress.

Local political pundits see Pravin Rathod as someone who belongs to Koli community. Traditionally BJP’s Kshatriya community candidate wins here. Patel voters form second powerful group while third section is Koli people.

Polling for primary for Vadodara seat will be held on 13th of this month. There are four candidates there including city Congress president, a woman candidate and two others.