5-Time BJP MLA Parshottam Solanki Assured Of Profitable Bhavnagar-Rural Seat Regardless of Poor Well being

Parshottam Solanki has been successful the seat with snug margins.

Ahmedabad:

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Celebration in Gujarat has as soon as once more reposed religion in five-time MLA and distinguished Koli group chief Parshottam Solanki for Bhavnagar-Rural seat within the upcoming Meeting polls, regardless of his sick well being.

Whereas 61-year-old Solanki asserts he has resolved all points of individuals in his Meeting phase and they’re going to vote for him, the opposition Congress claims this time he won’t be able to beat the anti-incumbency.

This Koli community-dominated seat got here into existence in 2012 following delimitation. It was carved out from the erstwhile Ghogha and Bhavnagar South constituencies.

Since then, Mr Solanki, who’s also referred to as ‘Bhai’ amongst his followers, has been successful the seat with snug margins.

Although he’s not protecting effectively since a while, the BJP has made him a star campaigner to assist the social gathering win Koli-dominated seats of the Saurashtra area.

There are almost 2.5 lakh votes in Bhavnagar-Rural seat, together with 70,000 Kolis, adopted by 40,000 Rajputs, 22,000 Patidars, 18,000 Dalits, 20,000 Muslims and round 15,000 Karadia Rajputs (Different Backward Class).

The Congress has given ticket to Revatsinh Gohil, whereas the brand new ballot entrant Aam Aadmi Celebration (AAP) has fielded Khumansinh Gohil.

Regardless of the percentages, the Congress has expressed hope of wresting the seat from Parshottam Solanki, claiming he’ll lose as a result of anti-incumbency.

Mr Solanki, due to his reputation within the area and the loyal Koli vote financial institution, up to now defeated Congress candidates, together with former chief of opposition within the Meeting Shaktisinh Gohil, a Kshatriya.

Regardless of Mr Gohil’s aggressive anti-BJP marketing campaign in 2012, Solanki had then defeated him by a margin of greater than 18,000 votes.

In 2017, Parshottam Solanki Solanki defeated Congress candidate Kantibhai Chauhan by a margin of greater than 30,000 votes.

Earlier, Mr Solanki received from the erstwhile Ghogha seat in 1998, 2002 and 2007.

Parshottam Solanki had served as minister underneath completely different chief ministers, together with Keshubhai Patel, Narendra Modi and Vijay Rupani.

“He’s maybe the one politician who by no means must marketing campaign for himself. He hardly goes amongst individuals to hunt votes for himself. Regardless of that, he all the time wins with a cushty margin. Such is his clout amongst voters,” an area chief mentioned. “Although Solanki is contesting himself, he has additionally been visiting different constituencies to make sure the victory of BJP candidates there as a result of he’s not anxious about himself,” the chief mentioned.

On Saturday, Parshottam Solanki campaigned for Gujarat Training Minister Jitu Vaghani, who’s contesting from Bhavnagar-West constituency.

Requested what are the important thing points on which he’ll search votes for himself this time, Mr Solanki laughed and claimed he has already resolved all the problems of Bhavnagar-Rural seat.

“In case if I’ve missed something, I’ll positively attempt to resolve that difficulty if anybody attracts my consideration in the direction of it. I’m not made for politics. I work for the individuals as a result of I like to do their work,” Mr Solanki informed reporters just lately.

Requested if the AAP will have an effect on his prospects, Mr Solanki mentioned he’s assured that his group will stay by his facet in any scenario.

Since 2013, Mr Solanki has been dealing with an investigation into an alleged fisheries rip-off of Rs 400 crore and the case continues to be pending earlier than an anti-corruption court docket.

It was alleged that he, as junior fisheries minister, had granted contracts for fishing from 58 reservoirs with out following procedures.

After the 2017 election, Parshottam Solanki, who was made the Minister of State for Fisheries within the Vijay Rupani cupboard, had claimed the Koli group was sad with the portfolio allocation and he must be given extra portfolios or one other Koli chief must be added within the cupboard for a good illustration of the group.

In an obvious bid to mount strain, his brother Hirabhai Solanki, additionally a sitting MLA from Rajula in Amreli, gathered Koli group members at Parshottam Solanki’s official residence at the moment. The difficulty was resolved after just a few days.

Bhavnagar district Congress president Rajendrasinh Gohil claimed worth rise underneath the BJP is the largest difficulty right this moment.

“An LPG cylinder now prices greater than Rs 1,000. Even individuals from the Koli group are indignant as a result of nothing concrete has been carried out by Parshottam Solanki for them until now. Individuals are indignant as a result of he by no means meets them, neglect about doing any work,” he additional claimed.

The Congress will convey to the voters that in contrast to Parshottam Solanki, the Congress candidate will stay obtainable for them anytime and do their work, Rajendrasinh Gohil mentioned.

SD Chudasama, former sarpanch of Kalatalav village and likewise a Koli group member, seconded the Congress chief’s views and claimed individuals of Bhavnagar-Rural seat, together with Kolis, weren’t pleased with Parshottam Solanki’s efficiency.

“Many villages in Bhal area of Bhavnagar confronted flooding in the previous couple of years after the federal government allowed salt pans on a bit of land which blocks the pure circulation of rivers. Our farms had been additionally inundated, leading to big losses. Regardless of our illustration, Parshottam Solanki by no means introduced any answer,” SD Chudasama mentioned.