The weekend proved to be an interesting affair for both the parties BJP and the Congress, who have locked horns to claim the people’s mandate in Gujarat. Both the parties have declared the list of candidates for the second phase of polling and the way it was done was quite unusual.
Apart from that, the Rajputs were back in the news after an apparent ‘foot-in-the-mouth’ moment by BJP leader and actor Paresh Rawal during a public meeting on Saturday in Rajkot. The actor-turned-politician, while remembering Sardar Patel at a recent rally in Rajkot, had compared the royals (raja) and music (vaja) to monkeys (vandra), which did not go down well with the said community. Soon after, the Karni Sena reportedly warned Paresh Rawal over his statement.
However, the veteran actor immediately apologised, saying that his comment was aimed at the “Nizam of Hyderabad.” “If anyone was hurt by the statement I would like to apologies for it,” he added.
The weekend also saw family ties shattered over the distribution of tickets by the saffron party which saw mother-in-law pitted against daughter-in-law.
‘Bahu’ Vs ‘Saas’ in BJP
Soon after BJP announced its fifth list of candidates for the upcoming elections, a drama of sorts erupted in the constituency, and within a family. Prabhatsinh sitting MP from Panchmahals, was trying hard to get a ticket for his third wife Rangeshwari Chauhan from Kalol constituency near Godhra was shocked to learn that the party issued its ticket to his daughter-in-law Suman Chauhan.
Prabhatsinh had reportedly issued an open threat to the BJP that he would have his wife contest as an independent candidate to ensure that the BJP candidate loses if his wife is not given the ticket.
In response to Suman’s nomination, Rangeshwari Chauhan posted on Facebook challenging her husband Prabhatsinh. “Prabhatsinh, if you have ever had your mother’s milk then try and campaign in Kalol, I challenge you!” She even accused her stepson Pravin of selling illicit alcohol in the constituency.
Congress Announced List on Phone
On Sunday, the Congress in an unprecedented move started declaring its list of candidates for the second phase of polling over the phone from an undisclosed location in Gujarat.
Among the names confirmed by the Grand Old Party features former MP Jivabhai Patel from Mehsana Taluka who will contest against Deputy CM Nitin Patel. Jivabhai had earlier defeated Nitin Patel during the 2004 general elections from the Mehsana seat. Interestingly, Nitin Patel who was at Mehsana on Sunday to attend a public gathering organised by the BJP to listen to PM Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’, has alleged that Jivabhai Patel wanted to join the BJP a few months ago and had even contacted him.
Similarly, Govindji Thakor got the Congress ticket from Gandhinagar South and Ahmedabad Zilla Panchayat President Puspaben Dabhi got the Congress ticket from Sanand which is located at the outskirts of Ahmedabad. The way the tickets have been announced has miffed one too many Congress workers and the security outside the GPCC office in Ahmedabad was beefed up on Sunday.
Party spokesperson Rekhaben Chaudhry, disappointed over the Congress’ manner of working, has also resigned. In Jamnagar, Congress corporator Atul Bhanderi joined the BJP after he did not get the Congress ticket.