Jasdan: State cabinet minister Kunvarji Bavalia today filed nomination form as BJP candidate for Jasdan assembly seat by-poll at 12.39 pm Vijay Mahurat. Jasdan is rural-small town constituency in Rajkot district of Saurashtra region. The seat is witnessing by-poll following resignation of then sitting Congress MLA Kunvarji Bavalia as he joined BJP.

Five-term MLA from Jasdan and a full-term Lok Sabha MP too representing this area, Kunvarji Bavalia filed nomination form in presence of MoS in Centre Parshottam Rupala and Mansukh Mandavia, Lok Sabha MP Mohan Kundariya, State cabinet minister Saurabh Patel, former MLA of Jasdan and BJP leader Bharat Boghra, former MLA and Koli community leader Hirabhai Solanki, MLA of Sanand, Rajkot city Mayor, Chairman of local Agriculture yard, BJP leaders Narhari Amin, Tejashree Patel, former Rajya Sabha MP Shankarbhai Vegad among others.

Prior to his nomination form filling, Kunvarji visited local temples of Kuldevi Hinglaj and Mahakali Madh and also visited Kalupir Dada durgah where he offered chaddar. Bavalia garlanded Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s statue and walked to file nomination form with a large procession.

Earlier addressing a public meeting along with Parshottam Rupala and others. Bavaliya said some of those who had sought ticket from Congress party to contest Jasdan by-poll were in his contact and they too would join BJP once their name is rejected by Congress for candidature.

BJP leaders in their speeches also said that Congress was not finding candidate to contest against Kunvarjibhai.

It’s worth noting that last date of filing nominations is 3rd December. Last date of withdrawal of candidatures is 6th December. Polling is going to take place on 20th December while counting will proceed on 23rd December.

Kunvarjibhai is Koli community leader. The community has majority presence in Jasdan constituency followed by Patels. BJP has employed full force of its leaders from both community to win Jasdan by-poll with huge margin. Kunvarjibhai has claimed he would win with over 50,000 margin due to merger of his personal strength and that of BJP.

Congress on the other hand believes this is traditionally a Congress seat (with one exception in which Dr. Bharat Boghra of BJP had won this seat) and it will retain it. Congress is however finding difficulty in selection of candidate. The party had shortlisted names of four candidates – two from Koli community and two from Patel community.

DeshGujarat