Several sitting women MLAs denied ticket as BJP focuses on winnability

Ahmedabad, Dec 1: With stakes very high for the BJP in the Gujarat elections, factor of winnability seems to have overridden considerations of women empowerment for the party, as it has fielded only 11 women candidates this time as against 19 in the 2012 elections and retained only four of the sitting MLAs. The party has, however, inducted four fresh faces. Among those axed this time is also former chief minister Anadiben Patel, who took some major steps for women’s participation in the political process during her tenure, introducing 50 per cent reservation for them in urban and local governing bodies and also 33 per cent reservation in the police force. Instead of her, Bhupendrabhai Patel has been chosen for Ghatlodia seat, which was represented by Ms Patel in the past. However, it is learnt Ms Patel had voluntarily decided not to contest any more, considering the age factor. She has crossed 75-year of age, a bar set by the party’s “Margdarshak Mandal”, a body created for guiding the party’s leadership. In 2012 elections, 12 out of 19 women candidates managed to secure their position in the 182-membered Gujarat Assembly. Besides Anandiben, the siting women legislators who do not find their names in the list include senior leaders like Vasuben Trivedi from Jamnagar (South) Nirmala Wadhwani from Naroda, who was minister of state for women and child welfare; Varsha Doshi, the two-term sitting MLA from Wadhwan and Bhavna Makwana from Mahua, as per the candidates list released by the party. According to political observers here, since the Assembly elections were very crucial for both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, both of whom hail from the state, winnability and acceptance among the public were bound to be the majors considerations while selecting candidates. Those of the sitting women legislators who managed to get ticket this include Manishaben Vakil from Vadodara city, Nimaben Acharya from Bhuj, Sangitaben Patil of Limbayat and Vibhavariben Dave from Bhavnagar East managed to receive tickets. In the last election, Ms Vakil had defeated her rival Jaishreeben Solanki of Congress by more than 50,000 votes. The BJP leader had secured over a lakh votes, according to the Gujarat Election Commission data. This time she is contesting against Congress’ Anilbhai Parmar.

Ms Acharya is facing challenge from Congress’s Chaki Aadambhai in Bhuj. Last time, she had emerged victorious against Amir Ali by 9,000 votes. In Limbayat, Ms Patil had defeated Suresh Mohan Sonvane of Congress by 30,000 votes. She is now in tough competition with Rabindra Patil. Aam Aadmi Party has fielded Raju Rasa for this seat.
Ms Dave had secured 85,000 votes and routed Congress’s Rajeshbhai Joshi by around 40,000 votes in Bhavnagar East. Now, she is having fight with Niatben Rathod. The party has also announced four new women faces for 2017 Assembly elections on Choryasi, Akota, Kalol and Anklav seats. On Choryasi seat, the BJP and Congress both have changed their candidates this time. The BJP has announced the name of Zankhaben Patel, and the Congress has fielded Yogeshbhai Patel . In the last election, Rajendrabhai Patel had got over one lakh votes and defeated Satishbhai Patel of Congress by 19,000 votes. Even then, his name didn’t figure out in the candidates list.
On the Akota seat, the BJP has refused to give ticket to its existing law maker Saurabh Patel. Last time, he won over Congress’s Lalitbhai Patel. The ruling party has given ticket to Seemaben Patel this time, while the main opposition party has fielded Ranjit Chavan. Sitting Kalol legislator Arvind Singh Rathore failed to get ticket this time. The party has preferred Sumanben Chauhan who will take on Baldevji Thakor.
In Anklav, the BJP has fielded Hansa Purbva. Amit Chavda is the sitting Member of Legislative Assembly. The party has field another woman Ramilaben on Khedabrahma seat. Mr Chavda had defeated BJP’s Bhejbhai Makwana by around 50,000 votes in the last elections. The state is going to poll in two phases on December 9 and December 14. The result will be declared on December 18.  UNI