BJP Faces Factional Struggles in Unjha APMC Elections

Ahmedabad : The Unjha market yard, a prominent regulated market in India known for its lucrative trade in Jeera, Variali, Isabgol, and Raido, is currently presenting challenges for the BJP leadership in Gujarat. As the elections on December 16 approach, factions within the party are vying for control over this significant market, leading to heightened tensions among the groups.

Unjha APMC stands out as a leading hub of prosperity in Gujarat. After the withdrawal of nomination papers for 14 candidates, which included four representing traders and ten from the farming community, a total of 36 candidates continued to compete. A total of 20 candidates are competing for 10 positions representing farmers, while 16 candidates are vying for four positions representing traders. If the election does not proceed via the ‘Samras’ method, then it is scheduled for December 16.

On Monday, December 9, the time for withdrawing nominations came to an end. At that moment, there were still 36 contenders in the competition. This comprises 20 representatives from the farming sector and 16 from the trading sector. The BJP typically secures mandates during the elections for cooperative institutions. However, there has been no mandate issued yet in the Unjha APMC election. 

Dinesh Patel, running unopposed in this election, stated that district BJP president Girish Rajgor and MP Haribhai Patel persuaded BJP members to avoid submitting unnecessary forms or to retract any they had already completed. Over 100 individuals completed the forms prior to the expiration of the deadline for withdrawing candidacies. The attempts by both BJP leaders to choose candidates using the Samaras method, bypassing elections, have yet to yield success.

In this election, Dinesh Patel, Kirit Patel, and Naran Lallu’s son Gaurang Patel are making every effort to strengthen their influence over APMC. Additionally, former Vice Chairman Arvind Patel is actively seeking the leading position.  Former APMC Secretary Vishnu Patel is making moves to bolster his influence by engaging actively in the upcoming election. Nonetheless, each of them has faced allegations of corruption previously. However, due to the organization’s size, they have been proactive in ensuring their control over it.

Narendra Patel, running as a candidate for traders, is optimistic about securing victory with the backing of the trading community. He claims that the BJP president and MP Haribhai Patel made efforts to mediate, but the farmers showed little interest in the electoral compromise. This time, they are resolute in their efforts to secure representatives from the election process. Consequently, the likelihood of achieving election reconciliation appears minimal at this point. Nonetheless, Kirit Patel, a candidate in this election, asserts that the decision will now be determined by the party. Consequently, the chance of reconciling the election results remains a viable option.

The state BJP has made a recent announcement concerning the regulations for appointing office bearers within the party organization. In a surprising move, the MLA from Unjha has submitted his candidacy for the farmers’ section in the APMC elections, despite the established guideline of one person, one position. He has persisted with his candidacy right up until the final deadline for withdrawing nomination papers. The upcoming election promises to be intriguing, especially with three factions of the BJP already gearing up to compete in the race.

The election for the Unjha Market Yard is set for December 16th, when voters will cast their ballots. The landscape of the election has now crystallized following the withdrawal of the nomination forms. A total of 1066 voters, comprising 261 from the farmers’ section and 805 from the traders’ section, are set to cast their votes and determine the outcome for the candidates vying for positions on the board of directors. The results will be revealed the following day, December 17th, following the completion of the vote counting process.