Gujarat: Jasdan bypoll a prestige issue for BJP & Congress

GANDHINAGAR: In the shadow of a the Congress victory in three of the five states that went to polls, the by-election in the Jasdan assembly constituency in Saurashtra that goes to poll on December 20 has now turned into a battle of prestige for a resurgent Congress and a beleaguered BJP in the home state of the prime minister and the party’s national president.

The seat had recently fallen vacant after the incumbent Congress MLA Kunvarji Bavalia jumped ship to become a cabinet minister in Vijay Rupani-led BJP government in the state.

However, to retain his position in the cabinet Bavalia has to regain reelection on a BJP ticket. The assembly seat has been a traditional Congress citadel in a region that has been BJP’s Achilles’ heel in 2017 due to both the Patidar movement and widespread resentment of farmers.


Senior BJP leaders admit that farmer’s dissent has been a major contributing factor to BJP’s worst ever electoral show in more than two decades. Smelling an opportunity, Congress has been making efforts to capitalise on it and GPCC President Amit Chavda minced no word speaking in saying distressed farmers will show their anger in the election.

Adding to BJP’s woes is Reshma Patel, a Patidar leader, who moved from Hardik Patel led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) to BJP ahead of 2017 assembly election, has hailed the victory of Congress in three out of five states on Tuesday and said the BJP government has not by far fulfilled any of the promises made to the Patidar community and therefore she will refrain from campaigning until these issues are resolved.

For Bavaliya and BJP, the election assumes extra significance simply because the party had acquired Bavaliya from Congress for his grip over the OBC Koli community. Bavalia has been one of the strong Koli leaders of Congress and BJP hopes to benefit from his stature within his community. The party thus accorded Bavalia a position in the cabinet within hours of him joining BJP from Congress, much to the chagrin of many senior workers within the party. While Bavalia’s win may spell success for BJP’s gamble, anything less than a win may trigger further expressions of discontent within the state unit.