BJP Ousts Rebel Candidates Ahead of Gujarat Bypoll

The BJP has expelled former MLA Mavji Patel and four others from its primary membership for contesting independently in the Vav bypoll. Patel, a key figure from the Chaudhary community, aims to attract traditional BJP votes. This move precedes the November 13 contest, with BJP's Swarupji Thakor facing Congress' Gulabsinh Rajput among others.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken decisive political action by expelling former MLA Mavji Patel and four others from the party's primary membership. This development occurs as Patel campaigns independently in the Vav bypoll in Gujarat, challenging the BJP's official candidate, Swarupji Thakor.

The bypoll, set for November 13, was triggered following the election of Congress MLA Geniben Thakor to the Lok Sabha. Mavji Patel, a director of Banas Bank and a significant representative of the Chaudhary community, aims to siphon traditional BJP votes in his favor.

Patel's political journey is marked by switches, from winning as a Janata Dal candidate in 1990 to moving through Congress and finally BJP in 2019. The party also suspended four other local leaders for similar dissent. The bypoll sees a crowded field of 10 candidates, with seven standing as independents, highlighting the fracture within the BJP's regional stronghold.

(With inputs from agencies.)