MLA Nalin Kotadia attends BJP meet over dinner on eve of Rajya Sabha polls

Gandhinagar: Nalin Kotadia, Member of Legislative Assembly(MLA) elected from Dhari seat on dissolved Gujarat Parivartan Party(GPP) ticket in 2012 and later joined BJP but soon parted way in support of Patidar quota agitation was today seen with BJP MLAs at community centre in Gandhinagar on eve of Rajya Sabha election tomorrow. BJP had organized the meeting of party MLAs over dinner today at community centre of ministerial bungalows here. With Nalin Kotadia in party’s fold and support of two NCP MLAs plus support of seven sulking Congress MLAs including Shankersinh Vaghela, the strength against Congress candidate Ahmed Patel is increasing.To get winning mark of 45, Ahmedabad Patel will need to have support of 44 Congress MLAs intact plus need JDU MLA Chhotubhai Vasava’s support or alternatively support of one MLA from sulking group or BJP fold. Kotadia’s support has been managed by BJP through Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Togadia who enjoys good influence over Kotadia. It’s worth noting here that Kotadia had met Ahmed Patel at hotel Taj in Ahmedabad a few days ago. He had also met deputy chief minister Nitin Patel to handover Patidar community memorandum.

Kotadia’s Facebook note:

My request to Patidars,

Tomorrow, there will be polling for Rajya Sabha election.

I was elected on GPP ticket but entire party merged constitutionally in BJP. It was passed in the assembly and the secretary of Gujarat assembly has given me it in writing.

Even today I am in BJP and during the session my seating arrangement is also with BJP.

But due to atrocities on Patidar community, I extended my support to agitators against the government and I have continued to struggle.

Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti(PAAS) core committee including Hardik had assigned me responsibility to hold discussion with government. I held meeting with government on behalf of Patidars with a letter signed by Hardik.

There came the issue of my vote and when I pressed government to accept our demands, the government reacted positively and made announcement that it will shortly hold meeting with PAAS and other organizations to take final decision in favor of Patidars.

Some elements who are active in garb of agitation are not happy with this but PAAS core committee including Hardik is ready for this compromise.

I am officially a BJP MLA. I have received whip from the BJP as per rules. If I reject it and don’t show my vote after polling to BJP agent, I can be disqualified for two terms from fighting election. I don’t care for that even, but I wish the community should get something.

Regarding the legal hurdles, Congress leaders have not been able to bring clarity in last 12 days.

Should I vote for BJP or do what alternatively, I seek guidance of Patidars. There’s polling tomorrow. I have faith that the government will accept your say and if it backtracks I will contest against them in assembly polls.

DeshGujarat