Update: All 68 Congress MLAs including Kaprada MLA Jitu Chaudhary who was earlier out of reach have reached Jaipur, said State Congress spokesperson late in the evening.

Gandhinagar: Fifth MLA of Congress party has resigned from the post of Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) in last 48 hours. The latest MLA to resign if Mangal Gavit who represents tribal populated Dang seat of South Gujarat. Bhaga Barad of Talala and Bharatji Thakor of Bechraji were reportedly out of reach for Congress leaders and media persons. However Bahratji Thakor told media persons that he was not going to resign and he was going to meet Bharatsinh Solanki. He said he was scheduled to go to Jaipur today. Earlier, four Congress MLAs representing Limbdi, Abdasa, Gadhada and Dhari had tendered their resignations. Looking at assertive posture of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), it appears that BJP will be able to win three seats. Polling for four Rajya Sabha seats in Gujarat is going to take place on March 26. While BJP has fielded three candidates, Congress has fielded two.

As per the strength of MLAs in the assembly on the day, Rajya Sbaha election was announced, BJP and Congress each was able to win two seats. However, BJP fielded three candidates. The third candidate Narhari Amin was in Congress previously. He is former Deputy Chief Minister. Reacting to resignations of Congress MLAs last evening State Congress chief Amit Chavda told media persons that they would recover the loss by poaching BJP MLAs. He had said this decision was taken in a meeting of State Congress leaders with State party incharge Rajeev Satav.

Meanwhile, State BJP Chief Jitu Vaghani alleged that Congress was offering money to relatives of its own party MLAs in Gujarat in attempt to win their votes. Vaghani said that while some Congress MLAs have given resignations, some others will also vote in favour of BJP candidates in Rajya Sabha election. Vaghani said Congress MLAs resigned as they were feeling unsafe in their party. None of those who resigned have joined BJP so far.

Dy CM Nitin Patel said, couple of more Congress MLAs were also likely to resign. He said Gujarat Congress MLAs are no more ready to listen to their central leadership. Congress party had to change its one candidate in Gujarat under the pressure of Gujarat MLAs.

In another development, Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) MLA Chhotu Vasava has been admitted to hospital in Vadodara. BTP has two MLAs. Conventionally, BTP MLAs have been voting in favour of Congress candidates in Rajya Sabha elections. There’s also one NCP MLA in picture. He is Kandhal Jadeja. Irrespective of whatever is the party mandate, he has been seen casting vote in favour of BJP candidates in Rajya Sabha elections in the past.

While Congress has option to withdraw nomination of one of two candidates today to evade seemingly sure defeat, it is learnt that there’s tussle going on between two candidates Shaktisinh Gohil and Bharatsinh Solanki over withdrawal of nomination. While Congress leadership is in favour of Shaktisinh Gohil to continue as one candidate, Bharatsinh Solanki is not ready to accept the idea.

DeshGujarat