BJP faces tough challenge as 60 aspirants eye Vav byoll

Ahmedabad : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finds itself in a challenging situation as over 60 candidates have expressed their desire to contest the upcoming Vav Assembly bypoll, scheduled for November 13. With so many aspirants vying for the party’s ticket, internal conflicts could emerge, posing a potential threat to the BJP’s bid to reclaim the seat.

To manage the growing list of contenders, the BJP has appointed a three-member observer committee to gauge the situation and conduct the selection process. The committee includes Asarwa MLA Darshna Vaghela, who has been tasked with assessing the candidates and gathering feedback from local party members. On Thursday, the observers convened a meeting at Lohana Wadi in Bhabhar, where over 60 individuals, along with their supporters, expressed their aspirations to represent the BJP in the bypoll.

Prominent names among the hopefuls include Swarup Thakor, Piraji Thakor, and Gajendra Rana, among others. Each candidate has begun mobilizing support, reflecting the high stakes attached to this particular election. The influx of aspirants could lead to internal disagreements within the party, reminiscent of the disputes that surfaced during the Lok Sabha elections in April 2024.

The BJP’s urgency to secure the Vav seat stems from its recent defeat in the Banaskantha Lok Sabha constituency. Determined to regain its footing in the region, the party is aiming to avoid any internal rifts that could weaken its prospects. Observers are analyzing the local political equations and are expected to shortlist three candidates, whose names will be forwarded to the party high command for a final decision.

The Vav Assembly bypoll has gained significance following the resignation of former MLA Geni Thakor, who delivered a rare win for the Congress in the region during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Thakor’s victory over the BJP candidate marked a key achievement for the Congress, which had struggled to secure seats in the state. In the previous Legislative Assembly election in 2022, Geni Thakor defeated BJP’s Swarup Thakor by a margin of over 15,000 votes, underlining the constituency’s shifting political dynamics.

The Vav seat has historically been a stronghold for the BJP, but recent elections have challenged that dominance. In 2017, BJP stalwart Shankar Chaudhary lost the Assembly election in Vav, marking a significant setback for the party. Now, as the bypoll approaches, the BJP is determined to reclaim the constituency and bolster its standing in the region.

Voting for the Vav bypoll will take place on November 13, and the results are set to be announced on November 23. The BJP is expected to deploy all resources to ensure a smooth and united campaign, avoiding the pitfalls of internal divisions. Given the number of aspirants, however, managing the selection process will be crucial for the party’s success. The outcome of this bypoll could also provide insights into the broader political landscape ahead of the next state elections, as both the BJP and Congress will seek to assert their influence.