Gujarat Cong witnesses protests over ticket distribution

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Congress today witnessed protests from different groups over ticket distribution, as supporters of dissident leaders shouted slogans against the party decision, in front of its state headquarters here.

To express anger over the selection of former city mayor Himmatsinh Patel from the Ahmedabad East seat, a group of dissident party workers from Naroda flocked to the party office today.

The group was led by local Congress leader Narsinh Patel, who alleged that Himmatsinh is not good enough to fight against the BJP, which has pitted actor Paresh Rawal from the seat.

"There are more than 14 lakh of voters of different castes and communities in Ahmedabad East seat. Our party should have consulted local leaders, workers, councillors and other representatives before declaring their candidate, but it seems that such exercise was not done," Patel, who was accompanies by his supporters said.

Alleging that Himmatsinh's name was never in the list of probable candidates, he also put Congress Gujarat state in-charge Gurudas Kamat in the dock for such a decision.

"Kamat is not aware about Gujarat or Ahmedabad. There were many names in the list, but all of them were ignored by him. We are angry because we want a strong candidate to defeat the BJP here," Patel said.

However, after meeting Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Arjun Modhwadia, Patel wound up his protest and left.

During the same time, leaders from the Maldhari community arrived at the Congress office here and warned of a state-wide agitation against the Congress for not giving a ticket to Raghu Desai from the Banaskantha seat, from where the Congress has fielded Joita Patel.