After 2007 defeat,one time BJP flagbearers now stand forgotten

Bhatt,an active member of the Bajrang Dal,was not given the ticket reportedly after his name cropped up in the Tehelka-sting reports. Although Bhatt was unavailable for comments,VHP member from Godhra,Murli Moolchandani said that Bhatt is back at his village,Matar in Kheda. Kalu Maliwad,the former MLA from the Lunawada Assembly seat,filed his nomination as an Independent candidate for the Panchmahal seat and later withdrew his nomination papers saying he was a dummy candidate. “It is a party strategy after which I was asked to file the nomination papers,” said Maliwad,who had won the Lunawada seat in 2002 with almost 60 per cent votes.

However,in 2007,the tables turned,and Hirabhai Patel of the Congress bagged the seat. Similarly,Jayanti Rathwa,who is known more for illegally firing in Bodeli during the 2002 riots in Vadodara’s tribal region,lost the Pavi Jetpur seat in 2007,to Mohansinh Rathwa of the Congress. Jayanti Rathwa wanted to contest the Chhota Udepur seat,but was denied a ticket. He said: “I am not very happy with the party’s decision; however,I am helping the party in whatever possible way,by organising campaigns and other such things.” He has several cases pending against him,including carrying weapons and alcohol in the previous elections,and riot-related cases.

BJP legislator from Rajgadh,Fatehsinh Chauhan,who has been named in rioting cases in Lunawada,continues to evade the police. Sources within the BJP in Godhra said that Chauhan has not been able to campaign,and is looking for reasons to evade arrest. Chauhan came to power in 2002 in Rajgadh – one of the worst riot-affected areas – and is now on the EC scanner for using abusive words against Sonia Gandhi,at an election meeting.