SURAT: Despite battling aggressive Patidars, who have disrupted several government functions recently, the BJP is likely to repeat the incumbents in the four assembly constituencies that have a sizeable population of Patels.
"This would be one of the toughest election for the party in the past 15 years for sure," the leader told TOI.
BJP had won all 12 seats in Surat city in the 2012 polls. Sources said that the party does not want to "risk" new faces in Patidar-dominated constituencies as the present MLAs have a stronghold in their areas despite the Patidar anger. These MLAs are Praful Panseriya (Kamrej), Kanu Kanani (Varachha), Janak Bagdanawala (Karanj) and Ajay Choksi (Surat north).
Though the party is yet to officially announce the candidates, some sitting MLAs have already started gearing up to contest the polls. However, the city is jittery over repeat of its sterling performance on account of the twin impact of GST and demonetization, besides the Patidar stir.
BJP had lost at least 11 wards to revolting Patidars who crossed over to Congress in the 2015 Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) elections and won on the opposition ticket.
Party insiders told TOI that two veterans — Udhna MLA Narottam Patel and Surat east MLA Ranjit Gilitwala — may be dropped and the BJP would go in for fresher and younger faces. Patel, a six-time MLA, is in his early 80s while Gilitwala is also in his mid-seventies with his close aides also citing his health.
"For veterans like Narottambhai, age has caught up. It is time to hand over the mantle to a young person. This applies to Gilitwala too. It looks more than likely that party high command would want another Patel candidate in Udhna and another experienced member in Surat east," said a senior BJP leader.
"This would be one of the toughest election for the party in the past 15 years for sure," the leader told TOI.
BJP had won all 12 seats in Surat city in the 2012 polls. Sources said that the party does not want to "risk" new faces in Patidar-dominated constituencies as the present MLAs have a stronghold in their areas despite the Patidar anger. These MLAs are Praful Panseriya (Kamrej), Kanu Kanani (Varachha), Janak Bagdanawala (Karanj) and Ajay Choksi (Surat north).
Though the party is yet to officially announce the candidates, some sitting MLAs have already started gearing up to contest the polls. However, the city is jittery over repeat of its sterling performance on account of the twin impact of GST and demonetization, besides the Patidar stir.
BJP had lost at least 11 wards to revolting Patidars who crossed over to Congress in the 2015 Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) elections and won on the opposition ticket.
by via Surat News, Latest Surat News Headlines & Live Updates - Times of India
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