Kalsaria plans his outfit’s poll debut, to field five candidates

Dissident BJP leader Dr Kanubhai Kalsaria is set to contest the forthcoming Assembly elections from Mahuva constituency from his "Sadbhavna Sewa Samiti" platform and not on a BJP ticket.

Kalsaria, who led a stir that resulted into the cancellation of allotment of government land for the proposed Nirma cement plant at Padhiyarka village in his constituency, has also decided to field candidates from five other constituencies where he claims he has political influence.

The Assembly constituencies he plans to field candidates from are Rajula, Talaja, Ghariadhar, Savarkundla and Palitana.

Speaking to The Indian Express, he said he had neither resigned from BJP nor the party had expelled him so far.

"But one thing is sure. I am not going to contest the polls on BJP ticket under any circumstances," Dr Kalsaria said while ruling out joining Congress or the recently floated Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) of Keshubhai Patel.

"I now realise I am not fit for any political party as I can't compromise on my principles," he said.

The Mahuva MLA said he was looking for some kind of electoral alliance among opposition parties to ensure that the Narendra Modi government was thrown out of power in December 2012.

Dr Kalsaria hoped his alliance with Congress will materialise in the run-up to Assembly elections and his candidates would be accepted by the Congress. "I am in touch with the Congress leadership," he said.

Dr Kalsaria was the first from the BJP to directly challenge Modi and even managed to out the ruling party from Mahuva taluka panchayat two years ago by forging an alliance with the Congress.

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