Party returns to power in Rapar municipality: Gujarat BJP reinstates 13 rebel councillors

A day after the rebellion on August 25, Gujarat BJP president CR Paatil had ordered suspension of the 13 from the party. They included Maheshwariba, Pravin Thakkar, Mahehwariba’s brother-in-law Hathubha Sodha, Jakab Kumbhar, Sakina Rauma, Mulji Parmar, Shailesh Shah, Hetal Mali, Neelam Vaghela, Narendra Soni, Balvant Thakkar, Ganga Shiyariya and Dhinga Padhiyar. However, Maheshwariba and Pravin Thakkar resigned from their posts on December 31 and thus, paved the way for fresh election to the twin posts.

On Monday morning, the 13 rebels were formally welcomed back to the BJP fold at an event presided over by Valamji Humbal, general secretary of BJP’s Kutch district unit, at the party office in Rapar town. Hours later, they respected the party mandate for the election to the posts of president and vice-president and voted for BJP nominees Amratben Vaviya and Maheshwariba Sodha for the twin posts, respectively. Congress also fielded Bhachiben Bambhaniya and Ajay Variya for the two posts, respectively. However, the latter lost the elections by 12 votes against 15 as one Congress councillor abstained from voting.

The BJP justified the re-entry of the rebels. “They were elected to the civic body on BJP tickets. Hence, they are originally BJP councillors. It is true, the party had suspended them for disrespecting the party mandate. However, they have realised their mistake and expressed their willingness to return to the BJP and so, we welcomed them back,” Vinod Chavda, general secretary of the Gujarat unit of the BJP told The Indian Express.

Chavda is also the sitting Member of Parliament from Kutch Lok Sabha constituency. “There wasn’t much change in the party mandate this time and the rebels have abided by it now,” Chavda added, highlighting that Amratben was the party nominee in August, too.

The 13 rebels were among 38 BJP councillors in six municipalities in the state who had rebelled against the party and were consequently suspended. Due to the rebellion, the BJP had lost power in five out of the six municipalities. Save Harij municipality in Patan district, the saffron party had lost power in Rapar and Upleta in Rajkot district, Talaja in Bhavnagar district, Khedbrahma in Sabarkantha district and Tharad in Banaskantha district.