Gandhinagar

Gujarat BJP today clarified that Member of Legislative Assembly(MLA) elected from Dhari constituency in Saurashtra region Mr Nalin Kotadia is not active member of BJP. The party has parted way with Kotadia long time back and it has nothing to do with Kotadia’s activities or his statements.

Rajya Sabha MP and state BJP general secretary Shri Mansukh Mandavia at state party headquarters replied media’s queries about Kotadia’s rebellion postures against party and the state government.

Mandavia said: Kotadia was elected as MLA from Gujarat Parivartan Party(GPP) in the last assembly elections. He was extending support to BJP as MLA. There’s no question of taking action against him because he is not active member of BJP. For last some time, Kotadia is misleading the farmers over imposition of eco-sensitive zone. I should make it clear that eco-sensitive zone will only prevent entry of heavy industry and polluting industry, and Gujarat government doesn’t allow such industries anyway.BJP has parted way with Kotadia already and it means that BJP doesn’t want Kotadia’s support.

Kotadia is agitating against proposed imposition of eco-sensitive zone for last few weeks. He has organized two public meetings in his constituency area which is located next to Gir jungle, the last abode of Asiatic lions. Kotadia in his fierce speeches alert farmers against eco-sensitive zone by saying that even farming will not be possible once eco-sensitive zone is declared. Kotadia gave a call of one day strike in over 100 villages that he believes will be affected due to imposition of eco-sensitive zone. He also organized funeral procession of forest department against proposed eco-sensitive zone. Forest department on the other hand says that Kotadia is spreading misinformation and false details among villagers for political gains. Forest department has distributed handbills to pur record straight over econ-sensitive zone issue.

Kotadia who belongs to Patidar(Patel) community was elected on now defunct Keshubhai Patel-led GPP in year 2012 general elections on casteist plank from Patel community populated Dhari constituency. GPP was successful to win only two seats. Kotadia was one of the two winners(other Keshubhai).

Being in BJP camp, Kotadia first crossed the limit when he started aggressive agitation against court-directed proposal of eco-sensitive zone. He later diverted the agitation against government. Kotadia crossed the limit again when he supported violent Patidar agitation and criticized the state government when state police took strong action against hooligans involved in violence.

But yesterday Kotadia crossed all limits by asking villagers not to vote for BJP if Patidars(Patels) don’t get reservation in jobs and education. He went on to support Patel agitation leader Hardik Patel’s remark that a Patidar youth should kill 2 – 5 policemen. Kotadia said even Lord Krishna had stated that one who kills should get killed in response.

Media persons had started questioning Kotadia’s support to Patel agitation as BJP MLA. BJP today distanced itself from Kotadia, by clarifying that he was elected as GPP member, he was not active member of BJP and he was just supporting the BJP as MLA, but party recently parted way with him and was not expecting his support.

Author’s note:

Kotadia was never BJP’s choice. He fought assembly polls on Gujarat Parivartan Party(GPP) ticket. GPP was formed on Patel plank. Kotadia had won the Dhari assembly seat on Patel caste card only through GPP. During the recent agitation of Patels for OBC inclusion, Kotadia saw that his ground support – Patels of his constituency – were overwhelmingly in support of the agitation. However his party and the state govt leaders were not in favor of the agitation. Kotadia for limited political opportunism joined the Patel bandwagon to continue to enjoy the casteist ground support that had made him victorious as GPP candidate. To further propel his local popularity and secure his future prospects to win as non-BJP candidate from Dhari, he raised the eco-sensitive zone issue and started an agitation by holding number of village meetings.

– DeshGujarat