Gujarat polls: Workers ditch party, join independents’ camps

AHMEDABAD: With polls around the corner, defection is a common occurrence in political parties. But switching gears to join camps of independent candidates is the new game plan this assembly election.
Vadodara district is in the limelight following two strong BJP rebels contesting as independents on two seats. While Dinesh Patel aka Dinumama is contesting from the Padra seat, two other rebels – Dharmendrasinh Vaghela and Madhu Shrivastava – jumped in the fray from the Waghodia constituency. Both Patel and Waghela have workersfrom the BJP joining their camps in good numbers.
It is Patel, who has been with both the Congress and the BJP, who seems to be hurting BJP the most, as senior party workers ranging from Padra taluka panchayat members to Padra municipality councillors joined him. Even persons holding prominent posts in the BJP have joined hands with Patel.
Many young BJP members joined Vaghela after they were issued notices by the party for working for him. “They had been working for us for a while. We were hoping for a ticket but didn’t get one so Vaghela is contesting as an independent,” said an aide.