Kunvarji Bavaliya's entry irks Gujarat BJP leaders, sparks controversy in party

Kunvarji Bavaliya is going to take oath as cabinet rank minister in Gujarat government at 4:00 pm on Wednesday in Gandhinagar, as announced by the Gujarat BJP chief Jitu Vaghani on Tuesday. However, the BJP leaders, and especially a few from the Koli community, took this with a pinch of salt.

Senior leaders like Parshottam Solanki and Hira Solanki are at bay with party's decision to make Bavaliya cabinet minister, when Parsottam Solanki's demand to elevate him from state-level minister to cabinet minister was already pending before the party high command.

Solanki is the minister of state for fisheries and animal husbandry in the state government. He was not content with the portfolio and state-level rank in government and had revolted against party's decision soon after deputy CM Nitin Patel had expressed his displeasure with the fewer portfolios he was given. Solanki, however, was coaxed by the party leaders and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani with the promise that his demands would be accepted in next expansion of cabinet. Since then, Solanki had been staying away from the meetings of cabinet, party organization and government functions. Although he did not say anything from any platform, the latest move of party could make him furious.

Solanki could not be reached for reaction as he had to admitted to Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital. However, his younger brother, Hira Solanki, gave the hint that they are not happy with the party's decision.

Although Solanki lost assembly polls as a BJP candidate from Rajula constituency, he was inducted in the poll management committee recently formed by the high command for the Lok Sabha polls.

The Solanki brothers have an influence on the Koli community across Saurashtra.

"It's good if Bavaliya joins BJP, but our demand for my elder brother Parsottam Solanki stands as it is. We shall make a representation before our party soon. Our community also has not received this development well. We will let party and media know about our future course of action soon," Solanki said.

Other party members, who are fuming on Bavaliya's induction included five-times MLA from Vaghodiya Madhu Shrivastav. The senior leader had recently shown his discontentment with the BJP government and held meetings with Yogesh Patel and Ketan Inamdar, fellow MLAs from Vadodara district.

"We have no concern who joins BJP and who leaves Congress. My concern is that central Gujarat has no representation in the state government's cabinet and the party must include at least a few MLAs the region," Shrivastav said.

Congress MLA from Lathi, Virji Thumar, blamed Kunvarji of taking a bribe from BJP of political bargaining.

"This is unfortunate. The BJP has started horse trading as Lok Sabha polls are gradually closing. Bavaliya joined BJP for political advantage and took a bribe from the party. He sought the position of deputy CM, but had to accept the post of cabinet-level minister," Thumar said.

A senior Congress MLA from Khambhaliya who is also at discord with party organization, Vikram Madam supported Bavaliya. Madam said, "This is the result of state-level Congress leaders ignoring senior members of party. The president in Gujarat has been behaving whimsically and sidelining senior leaders. I, too, support Bavaliya as he did what his conscience asked him to do. I'm not of the opinion to join BJP in any case."

On the other hand, there are reports that Congress MLA from Radhanpur and Thakor Sena leader Alpesh Thakor might join the BJP. Thakor is believed to be very close to Congress president Rahul Gandhi and had managed to get seven to eight tickets for his own persons in assembly polls. Another leader, former MP and son of former CM of Gujarat Amarsinh Chaudhari, Dr Tushar Chaudhari, also could join BJP, said the sources. Shrivastav said, "People from Congress would join BJP and become ministers and BJP loyalists would sing bhajans at Hanuman temple."