Fatepara accuses local leaders of scuttling his chances

Surendranagar MP Devji Fatepara, who was denied BJP ticket for the

Lok Sabha

polls, accused two party leaders of conspiring his ouster. The BJP decided to drop Fatepara and chose Dr Mahendra Munjapara to contest from Surendranagar.


Talking to reporters at his residence in Rajkot on Sunday, Fatepara alleged he was denied ticket at the behest of Wadhvan MLA Dhanji Patel (Makson) and former minister Jayanti Kavadia.

"According to intelligence bureau (IB) report, my chances of winning was 95 percent. During the sense-taking process too, 85% people favoured my candidature. There was no plausible reason for denying me the ticket."

He also accused the BJP of side-lining the Koli leaders. "Before me, Soma Ganda and Shamji Chauhan were shown the door," he claimed. Fatepara also blamed Congress turncoat and now a minister, Kunvarji Bavalia, for not supporting him despite the fact that he is the tallest leader of the local Koli community.

When asked about his next strategy, Fatepara said he will go by the advice of his supporters and community. He also hinted at joining the Congress and working to defeat Dr Munjapara.

Fatepara also alleged that Dhanji Patel had asked him to give his Delhi bungalow to his relative, which he denied. However, Dhanji Patel denied the allegation later.

Munjapara also belongs to Chuvadia Koli community, the same as Fatepara. A practising cardiologist, Dr Munjapara has a hospital in Surendranagar and had joined BJP a few years ago. He will be contesting his maiden election when

Gujarat

goes to polls on April 23.