Gujarat Assembly polls | BJP faces rebellion, five leaders threaten to fight as independents
The Hindu
“I have sent my resignation to the party. People of this area know how much work I have done as an MLA between 2002 and 2012,” says Harshad Vasava.
At least one sitting Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs and four former legislators have threatened to contest as independents after they were denied tickets by the party for the two-phase Gujarat Assembly elections to be held on December 1 and 5.
While some of these disgruntled leaders have said they will make their next move after consulting supporters, former BJP MLA and a known tribal face of the party, Harshad Vasava, has already filed his nomination papers on Friday as an independent from Nandod (Scheduled Tribe reserved) seat.
Notably, Harshad Vasava is the president of Gujarat BJP's Scheduled Tribe Morcha and had represented the erstwhile Rajpipla seat between 2002 and 2007 and from 2007 to 2012.
Nandod in the Narmada district is currently held by Congress. The BJP has fielded Dr. Darshana Deshmukh from the seat.
Unhappy over the announcement, Harshad Vasava resigned from his post in the BJP and submitted his nomination papers for the Nandod seat on Friday.
"There is an original BJP and a duplicate BJP here. We will expose those who have sidelined committed workers and given key posts to newcomers. I have sent my resignation to the party. People of this area know how much work I have done as an MLA between 2002 and 2012," Mr. Vasava told reporters after filing his nomination as an independent.
In the neighbouring Vadodara district, one sitting and two former BJP MLAs are up in arms against the party after being denied tickets.