Infighting surfaces in Sabarkantha Cong

With the Assembly elections just two months away, infighting in the Sabarkantha district Congress has come out in the open.

A group of party leaders took out a rally in Himmatnagar on Wednesday and made a representation to state Leader of Opposition Shaktisinh Gohil, requesting him not to give ticket to sitting Khedbrahma Congress MLA Ashwin Kotval in the coming elections.

Gohil and some other Congress leaders from Ahmedabad and Delhi were in Himmatnagar for an election related party meeting.

The 1,000-odd Congress workers, led by Naresh Patel, Rumalbhai Ghrangi, Lilaben Dabhi and Prakash Brahmbhatt, alleged that there was a nexus between Kotval and local BJP leaders, and he did not care for Congress workers throughout his five-year term.

"All these five years, he (Kotval) has worked with and for BJP workers and leaders like state Home Minister Praful Patel. So, we have demanded that ticket can be given to any of three other contenders, but not to Kotval," Naresh Patel told The Indian Express.

"Gohil has assured us that he will look into our demands," he added.

Kotval, on the other hand, alleged that the rally was a handiwork of AICC general secretary and former MP Madhusudan Mistry. "The rally was taken out at the behest of Madhusudan Mistry to prevent me from getting a ticket. He (Mistry) does not want me to emerge as a Congress leader of tribals in the region," he said, adding, "I've been elected as MLA twice by defeating the BJP. How can I work with or for them?"

When contacted, Mistry said, "It is below my status and stature to comment on such allegations. It is the issue concerning Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee and it will take appropriate decision on the same. I have nothing to comment on it."

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