Parthi Bhatol’s son resigns from BJP, joins Congress

Palanpur: A former BJP legislator and son of Parthi Bhatol, former chairman of Banas Dairy, Vasant Bhatol quit the saffron party to join Congress on Thursday. “Now, I would actively participate in the campaign for my father,” asserted Bhatol who represented Danta constituency from 2009 to 2012. He claimed that he quit BJP as he was experiencing embarrassment after the party started ignoring him.
In the meantime, Parthi Bhatol filed his nomination as Congress candidate from Banaskantha constituency, while BJP minister of state for health, Parbat Patel, filed his nomination as the BJP candidate.

Earlier, a 2km-long mammoth rally was brought out in the presence of CM Vijay Rupani, Banas Dairy chairman Shankar Chaudhary and district president of BJP, Keshaji Thakor who is disgruntled after the party denied him ticket, besides thousands of BJP supporters. The most striking feature in Banaskantha is that Thakor Sena has fielded its vice president Sawarupji Thakor and Sangthan secretary Mukeshji Thakor. “One of us will withdraw,”said Swarupji Thakor.

Meanwhile, Congress candidate from Patan, Jadish Thakor has filed nomination, while rival BJP candidate, Bharatsinh Dabhi, MLA from Kheralu in Mehsana, too filed his nomination papers.

From Mehsana, Shardaben Patel filed her nomination, while her rival candidate from Congress, AJ Patel too filed his papers on Wednesday. Ashaben Patel, who had resigned from the Congress has also filed her candidature as MLA from Unjha constituency in Mehsana, a seat that fell vacant following her resignation as the Congress MLA.