Gandhinagar: Gujarat BJP chief CR Patil today in reply to media query stated that the party has accepted the resignation of former cabinet minister Jaynarayan Vyas.

CR Patil said – ‘Jaynarayan was with BJP for last twenty years. The party had continuously given him ticket even after he lost the polls twice. He had been made cabinet minister also. But he could not have hope for getting a ticket after the age of 75 as per the party norms. Or there could be his own reasons. He has sent his resignation after thanking the party. His resignation has been accepted.’

In reply to another question related to Vyas’s resignation, Patil said – ‘his letter is with us and he has not said anything of that sort that he was insulted. In 32 years, the party made him a Cabinet minister. Even after he lost the election twice in 10 years, the party had given him a ticket. He has been assigned various responsibilities and the party has taken his service. We are satisfied with his services and he is also satisfied. He has conveyed thanks in his letter. His letter doesn’t mention that he is upset or insulted. And there’s no such reason.’

Patil in reply to another question stated ‘We have met time and again. We are friends. We have considered his opinion. Even after he lost the elections twice in Patan district, we have appointed the office bearers as per his wish and given no reason for him to complain.’

It’s worth noting that Jay Narayan Vyas has tendered his resignation from the party. Vyas who met with State Congress incharge Ashok Gehlot a few days ago has stated that he is going to contest from Sidhpur and he is in contact with both Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party. Vyas today also said that he doesn’t wish to contest as an independent. Vyas said he would sit with his supporters and decide which party to join. He also said that he will need to check whether Congress would wish him to field fro Sidhpur. He further stated that Sidhpur seat as per its caste and community arithmetic is more suitable for Congress. Vyas had sought a ticket from BJP and stated that the first right of rejection would be to BJP.

Vyas had lost the last two assembly polls as BJP candidates with a margin of over 17,000 votes against Chandanji Thakor in 2017 and against Balwantsinh Rajput by a margin of over 25,000 votes in 2012. He had also lost Sidhpur election in 2002 by a margin of over 10,000 votes. In 2007 he had been successful to win on this seat by a margin of merely less than 2500 votes. There was uneasiness among party cadres and locals after Vyas, then the minister had placed his son to head the local Agriculture Produce Committee. There was another point the locals in Sidhpur would raise that though Vyas was representing Sidhpur in the State assembly, he would mostly live in his Ahmedabad based bungalow, about 114 kms away.

Vyas who had been Health and Tourism minister in the past had started criticizing BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his works in his Facebook posts and also in his TV debate show that he anchored first and later participated as a panelist. Interestingly, while Vyas says that Sidhpur is more suitable constituency for Congress to win, the BJP has got plus 11,000 votes in 2014 and plus 10,000 votes in 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Sidhpur assembly seat. DeshGujarat