“I had not sought ticket, media informed me, my reaction was: Is it true really?”

Vadodara, 26 August 2014

Surprised with announcement of her name as party candidate for Vadodara Lok Sabha seat, Deputy Mayor of Vadodara Municipal Corporation(VMC) Ranjanben Bhatt told media persons that she had not even demanded ticket to contest Vadodara seat.

Ranjanben said, “there was no question for me to demand ticket, as senior party leaders here had claimed for same.”

She further said, “it came to me as surprise. I was informed by media persons who got to know about it even before me. As soon as I heard it, my first reaction was: Is it really true?”

Senior Councillor of VMC, Ranjanben was made Deputy Mayor of Vadodara in June this year.

Author’s note: It is believed that caste factor has played major role in Ranjanben’s selection. BJP didn’t want to repeat Harin Pathak in Maninagar and he was replaced with another Brahmin candidate Paresh Rawal. Similarly on Vadodara seat, Balu Shukla has been replaced with another Brahmin candidate Ranjanben. Thus ratio of Brahmin representation from Gujarat BJP in Lok Sabha has been maintained. By selecting Ranjanben, the party has also given a message that any person can get a chance in party. The other thing, party wants its own supremacy over safe seats.High profile faces are avoided therefore.