Hyderabad: The elections to the six municipal corporations in Gujarat are round the corner. After completing the process of gauging candidates' sense, the BJP's state parliamentary board is holding a three-day meet. However, the announcement made by BJP state president CR Patil has ruffled the feathers of many in the party. Patil has announced that those candidates above 60 years and those who have consistently won three terms will not be issued tickets. Also, kith and kin of the BJP leaders will not be given tickets. This announcement has met with lots of chagrin among the BJP leaders as well as the party workers.
Announcement put a question mark on senior leaders' future
This appears to sound the death knell for the political career of many senior leaders who have toiled for the BJP throughout their lives. Ironically, the state BJP president himself is 65 years old and he has won three terms as an MP. Now that Patil has taken the decision of not giving tickets to countless senior leaders of six municipal corporations including Ahmedabad, what will these leaders do? Will they continue to work for the BJP or defect from the party or join Congress or any other political party? This has indeed put a question mark on many senior leaders' future.
More than 23 corporators in Ahmedabad above 60 years of age
If we talk about Ahmedabad, more than 23 corporators are above 60 years of age. All these leaders are senior. They have been associated with the BJP for ages. On the other hand, those who have won five terms include three corporators who include Amit Shah from Vasana, and Krushnavadan Brahmabhatt and Mayur Dave, both from Khadia. Those seven corporators who have won four terms include Bipin Sikka from Sardarnagar, Gautam Shah from Naranpura, Dinesh Makwana from Saijpur Bogha, Mahendra Patel from Khokhra, Pravin Patel from Shahibaug, Bipin Patel from Asarwa and Madhuben Patel from Vastral. There are 11 corporators who have won more than three terms. All of them are not going to get tickets in these elections.
Three senior leaders seek tickets for their sons
Bhushan Bhatt, who is the son of late Ashok Bhatt and ex MLA, has sought ticket for his son. Likewise, leader of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), Amit Shah, has sought ticket for his son. Also, corporator Tulsi Dabhi has demanded ticket for his son, for which he has been lobbying in the corridors of the BJP.
39 corporators in Ahmedabad not to get tickets
Thirty-nine corporators of the AMC who include three ex mayors, ex-deputy mayor and ex-standing committee chairman are not going to get tickets. Also, there are 15 women corporators who will not be getting tickets.
Senior BJP MLAs may not get tickets in 2022
If this rule dictated by Patil is made applicable for the 2022 assembly elections as well, many senior MLAs, who have occupied top positions in the BJP and have been the party's faces, will not get tickets. This has sent chills down the spines of many senior BJP leaders. In short, it appears that BJP is relying more on youth power. It seems that the party believes that youths will be able to govern better in the digital era.
Party's weightage in candidates declared in Bhavnagar
It was Aam Adami Party (AAP) and Congress which had declared their list of candidates for Bhavnagar Municipal Corporation. Like the BJP, both the parties have avoided senior citizens and given opportunities to women and youths. It is evident from the lists declared by both the parties that the parties have given a good representation to the minority community. In Bhavnagar, both the AAP and the Congress have appeased all the sections of the society so that no hard feeling is felt by any group.
Also read: 'No BJP tickets to those over 60, relatives of politicians'
In Rajkot, Congress to repeat candidates, include senior citizens
In the election to the Rajkot Municipal Corporation, the Gujarat Congress has repeated all the candidates who were mentioned in the first list of candidates brought out by it. The Congress has also given tickets to fresh candidates. One candidate above 60 years has also been repeated and given a ticket.
AAP and NCP field their candidates, keeping their vote bank in mind in Surat
Hitherto in Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), a two-pronged fight between the BJP and the Congress used to be witnessed. Now with this election, when the AAP and the NCP are entering the fray, the tug of war between the parties is going to be fierce. The AAP has fielded mostly educated candidates this time. In its first list of candidates, of 72 candidates, 80% hold graduate degrees. The AAP has also selected the educated candidates from the Patidar community. The list of the NCP consists of 20 candidates, of which only six are above 40 years of age. The NCP has selected the candidates from the minority community dominated areas.
In Jamnagar, woman included, senior citizens excluded
The Congress, the NCP and the AAP have given tickets to the woman candidates in the election to the Jamnagar Municipal Corporation. However, all the parties have not included senior citizens in their lists of candidates.
