Gujarat Assembly polls | BJP, Congress change one candidate each
The Hindu
The changes were made after both the parties faced dissent and rebellion over choice of candidates
Ahead of next month's Gujarat Assembly elections, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well as the Opposition Congress have changed one candidate each — in Wadhwan and Botad seats respectively — in the Saurashtra region.
The changes were made after the candidates allotted the seats expressed their unwillingness to contest from them, leading the two parties to announce their replacement on Sunday night.
On the Wadhwan seat in Surendranagar district, the BJP has replaced Jigna Pandya with its district unit president Jagdish Makwana. In Botad, the Congress has replaced its district unit president Ramesh Mer with party spokesperson Manhar Patel.
Days after her name was announced for the Wadhwan seat, Ms. Pandya, a Brahmin, expressed her unwillingness to contest the poll and urged the BJP leadership to give a chance to some other candidate. She had not specified any reason for backing out from the race.
Wadhwan is currently held by BJP MLA Dhanjibhai Patel, a well-known businessman of Surendranagar.
After her appeal, which was in the form of a letter to the BJP leadership, the BJP on Sunday made an announcement replacing her with Jagdish Makwana, who belongs to the Sathwara (OBC) community.
On November 12, the Congress had announced that Ramesh Mer will fight polls from Botad, currently held by BJP MLA and former minister Saurabh Patel.
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