Rebel worries for parties: BJP suspends 24 members

GANDHINAGAR/VADODARA: The BJP on Friday suspended 24 of its senior party workers who after being denied party tickets chose to stand as independents or candidates from rival parties against BJP-nominated members. Among them are former district and taluka panchayat presidents, ex-MLAs, former MP, primary members, community leaders and others. While one of these candidates is fighting on NCP ticket, two of the rebel BJP candidates have been given Congress tickets. Some notable former BJP leaders among those standing as independents include Kanji Patel, Babu Bhabhor, Bhupendra Solanki, Hitendra Patel among others.

Despite being forced by the party to pull back their nominations as independents on the last day of withdrawal of nomination on Thursday, many workers refused to buckle under pressure. This was same in case of the rebel Congress candidates as well.

Kamabhai Rathod, former MLA from Sanand, who lost in 2012, widely opposed the BJP's move to give ticket to Congress turncoat Karamsi Makwana's (Koli Patel) son. He also filed his nomination as an independent.

Despite desperate attempts by parties and candidates who had mandates, rebels continued to remain in fray in central Gujarat. Only few of them withdrew nominations on the last day on Thursday. The prominent rebels in fray include Bhupendrasinh Solanki, who is considered loyal to former BJP state organising secretary Sanjay Joshi, from Lunawada in Mahisagar district. Solanki had filed nomination as an independent.