After many dead-ends, GPP finally finds an office

Despite pressure allegedly from the state government on the owners of several buildings not to rent out their premises to the newly formed Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) launched by former chief minister Keshubhai Patel, the party finally has succeeded in getting a new address.

The GPP office, currently located on the ground floor of Abhinav Arcade on Ashram Road in Paldi area, will be shifted to Ratnam Mani Complex in front of the Gandhigram railway station in a few days.

The search for the new office began after the Mahagujarat Janata Party (MJP) headed by former BJP minister and Keshubhai loyalist Gordhan Zadaphia merged with GPP. As there is not enough space in the existing premises, Zadaphia, who is GPP's general secretary, asked his workers to find a suitable place for the office.

The task, however, proved tough.

The party first finalised a deal with the owner of the third floor of Abhinav Arcade itself. But on the day GPP had to sign a rent agreement, the owner reportedly backed out saying he was under tremendous pressure from the government to cancel the deal with GPP.

The party then struck a deal with the owner of a house near Mahalaxmi Crossroads and even paid him Rs three lakh in advance. However, once again, the owner refused to sign a rent agreement at the eleventh hour citing pressure from certain quarters in the government. He returned the advance amount.

GPP office secretary Suresh Patel said, "When we approached the owners of two other buildings near the Gujarat College in Ellisbridge area, they too refused at the time of signing a rent agreement, giving the same reasons.

A senior GPP leader said though a Muslim in Paldi area offered to rent out his building to the party, it was not accepted due to certain reasons.

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