Lok Sabha elections: Suspense over BJP Surat candidate continues

SURAT: The suspense over BJP candidate for Surat

Lok Sabha

seat is likely to continue for some more time. Darshana Jardosh, sitting BJP MP, could have been re-nominated as party candidate, but for too many contenders for this seat, considered safest in South

Gujarat

. City unit BJP president Nitin Bhajiyawala is also one of the ticket aspirants.

A BJP leader said, “When two cats fight over a loaf of bread, it is the monkey that walks away with it. If that happens, it will mean the end for Surti people in national politics.”

“The delay in announcing the name of the candidate is a party tactic. BJP is keen to know who is being fielded by Congress on this seat. There is talk of Congress planning to give ticket either to Hardik Patel, Alpesh Kathiriya or son of Naresh Patel, trustee of Shree Khodhaldham Trust. Thus, the party wants to keep its options open on candidature,” another BJP leader said.

Many ticket aspirants for Surat Lok Sabha seat have made things difficult for Darshana Jardosh. “Her performance may not have been sterling, but it has not been that bad either. Look at the performances of other MPs and MLAs, she has not been that bad at all,” the BJP leader said, adding that Congress has not won this seat for 30 years and would not this time too.

“Surat is Gujarat’s economic capital and eighth most populated city in the country. But BJP leaders keep rushing to Gandhinagar even for small things,” Congress city unit president Babu Rayka said.