Jamnagar: Rivaba Jadeja, ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Jamnagar today was seen verbally rebuking party senior and two term Lok Sabha MP Poonamben Madam and also the city Mayor Binaben Kothari in public. Rivaba could be seen speaking in an uneasy tone mixed with anger targeting the city Mayor and Lok Sabha MP in the party function to mark Mera Desh Meri Mitti’ programme.

Media cameras captured Jadeja’s anger in the video that went viral. The city Mayor and Lok Sabha MP avoided deep arguments and it appeared MP Poonamben tried to cool down Rivaba Jadeja who is the first-time MLA who was elected to the State Assembly from the party’s conventional stronghold urban seat of Jamnagar a few months ago, in last year’s general elections in which BJP riding on Modi wave achieved 156 seats. However, Rivaba’s posture remained unchanged.

Wife of Cricketer Ravindra Jadeja, Rivaba joined BJP in 2019 and was fielded in the election by the party in December 2022. Poonambem Madam is BJP MP since 2014. Binaben Kothari, the city Mayor is another party senior locally who is associated with RSS-linked organizations. Kothari had been ward vice president, Mahila Morcha vice president and general secretary, primary education committee member for five years, and city councilor since 2015.

Around a minute-long video of Rivaba Jadeja’s temper in public function has gone viral on social media.

When media persons asked about this to State party chief CR Patil in a press conference in Surat, Patil said he would collect details on this.

When asked about this, Mayor Binaben said ‘It’s an internal matter of (party) family and I don’t want to say anything further on this.’

Speaking about this, Rivaba Jadeja said – ‘The function hosted by Jamnagar Municipal Corporation (JMC) was scheduled to start at 9 am but Poonamben came at 10.30 am. MP Poonamben paid tribute and she was wearing a chappal while doing so. Then there was my turn and to pay extra respect to martyrs, I removed chappal and paid tribute. Other party leaders also removed their shoes and they offered tribute. Then I was there standing with the Mayor and MP. And there, MP Madam loudly said that PM and President also don’t remove shoes, but some people go over-smart. I disliked this remark and in order to protect my self-respect, I said that I have paid tribute by removing chappal. Poonamben replied that her remark was not for her and that she was conversing with  Binaben.’

Rivaba further said – ‘Then as Mayor intervened and spoke in a rough manner, I had to react to her also. Binaben’s tone of speaking with others is well known among the people of Jamnagar.’

DeshGujarat