Will Guj Congress ‘Traitor’ Kunvarji Bavaliya Win Jasdan for BJP?

The seat has been Congress’ bastion till July this year, when Jasdan MLA Kunvarji Bavaliya quit the Grand Old Party.

Kunvarji Bavaliya (seated in Centre) has won the Jasdan seat 5 times in a row albeit on a Congress Ticket

Rahul Nair@The Quint

The year 2018 ended on a positive note for the Congress who formed governments in three states- Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chatisgarh. However, one last battle will be fought by the resurgent Congress and the BJP, on Thursday, 20 December as Jasdan constituency in Rajkot district will vote for a new MLA.

The election will decide once and for all whether Jasdan is a Congress bastion or current BJP cabinet minister Kunvarji Bavaliya’s fortress. Bavaliya resigned as MLA of Jasdan and joined the BJP who immediately offered him a Cabinet berth and three independent portfolios- Water Resources, Animal Husbandry and Rural Housing Development.

The 20 December by-polls is crucial for Bavaliya who has won the Jasdan seat five times in a row, but on a Congress ticket; a loss could prove to be a massive jolt to Bavaliya’s political career. As for the Congress, the results will indicate if the party still has the backing of the numerically strong Koli community.

‘Bavaliya is a Traitor’

The Quint spoke with several residents of Jasdan Taluka who voiced a mixed response to the By-Polls.

At a sabha organised in Amrapura village by the BJP, local resident Shambhu Dabhi told The Quint, “As long as Bavaliya is on the ballot, it doesn’t matter which political party he joins. Jasdan is his fortress and for years he has helped the poor farmers here.”

“He is a traitor. I was part of PAAS and we helped Bavaliya during campaigning. On the day of the election, BJP workers attacked us after polling concluded. And now he has joined the same party. People will not forgive his treachery.”

Dhirubhai Khokaria, Atkot Village, Jasdan

Gujarat Congress President, Amit Chavda told The Quint that the Congress had always respected Bavaliya and gave him high ranking positions within the party.

“The Congress made Kunvarji Bavaliya an MLA and MP and gave him the top position within party, yet he betrayed the party. The people had voted him on the Congress symbol. Without asking or telling anyone, he betrayed the party and the people for his political ambitions.”

Amit Chavda, Gujarat Congress President

Congress candidate Avchar Nakia said, “He (Bavaliya) wants to open BJP’s account here in Jasdan. But they will not be allowed to. Jasdan was and will always remain a Congress stronghold.”

BJP is Counting on Bavaliya’s Cabinet Berth

The BJP is desperate to clinch Jasdan and believes that Bavaliya will bag the seat for the party, thereby raising their numbers in Assembly.

At a sabha held at the local BJP office in Shivrajpur village in the outskirts of Jasdan Taluka, Bavaliya thanked the BJP leadership.

“A historic decision was taken by our PM, Gujarat’s CM and senior leaders of BJP who have shown their trust in me thanks to your blessings and confidence in me. They gave me three independent portfolios along with a direct cabinet berth. Bharat bhai (Boghra) tells me that this in not only a first for Jasdan or Gujarat but for the country. I’m forever obliged and grateful to you,”

Kunvarji Bavaliya, BJP Cabinet Minister and Candidate, 

When The Quint approached Bavaliya to ask him about his strategy to win the elections, he flatly refused and said, “I am not talking to the media till the voting is done, please speak with our local BJP leader Bharat Boghra.”

Incidentally, Dr Bharat Boghra who contested the 2017 election against Bavaliya for the Jasdan seat, is now managing the latter’s campaign for the by-polls.

“For the first time since India’s independence, a MLA from this area got a cabinet berth, which the Gujarat government and BJP gave. People are excited as many issued pertaining to water, roads and health which was pending for many years, can now be solved through their MLA who is part of the Cabinet. It’s the first time people here will vote for a cabinet minister.”

Dr Bharat Boghra, BJP

The Congress Aims to Impress Koli Community

After sweeping three states in the recently concluded Assembly elections, the Congress in Gujarat is raring to take on the BJP at Jasdan. The party wants to end Bavaliya’s five-term reign in Jasdan and have fielded Koli community strong man Avchar Nakia to take on Bavaliya.

According to Nakia, the seat has always been a Congress bastion, and his victory will solidify the Congress control on Jasdan once and for all sans Bavaliya. Both leaders belong to the Koli Community who form 35 percent of the voter base in Jasdan.

“BJP Candidate is from the Koli community and so am I. In every election we get 3,000-4,000 plus Koli votes meanwhile the Patel community votes come in less numbers. That is because Patels live in the city while we Kolis are not crorepatis to live in the city,” he said.

Hemang Raval who heads the social media team for he Gujarat Congress said that they have targeted over 105 villages in Jasdan area.

“We have created over 10 teams of two members each and sent them to these villages. Our workers are meeting villagers who are aligned with the Congress ideology and are noticing a rising resentment towards the incumbent state government. With multiple WhatsApp groups in play, it is easier to disseminate information to our voter base. We are also cold calling those who do not use smart phones and sending them SMSs urging them to vote for the Congress.”

Hemang Raval, Gujarat Congress Social Media Team

Counting of votes will be held on 23 December. If Nakia wins Jasdan, Bavaliya will not only lose his cabinet berth and three portfolios but it will also damage his political career.