The much-anticipated candidate fielded by Congress, Paresh Dhanani, filed his nomination from the Rajkot Lok Sabha constituency today.

Before filing nomination papers, a public meeting was held at the racecourse near Bahumali Bhavan Chowk. At the venue, Dhanani was welcomed by Kshatriyas with a tilak and turban. 

While Dhanani was addressing the public meeting, there was a sudden power cut. Taking a situational jibe at the BJP, Dhanani said, “Power failure occurred in Saurashtra during the daylight; this ‘vikas’ (development) has to be defeated.”

Many veteran leaders of Congress, including Shaktisinh Gohil, former MLA Pratap Dudhat, and Naynaba Jadeja, were present in this public meeting.

Good-old battle begins

Congress aimed to take advantage of the backlash faced by the BJP in Rajkot and field Rupala’s nemesis, Dhanani.

Dhanani, who is contesting elections from Rajkot against Rupala, defeated Rupala in the 2002 Assembly elections for the Amreli constituency.

A tough battle has been anticipated as Patidar leaders step into the election game.

BJP leader Rupala, from the Kadva Patel community, has been the epicentre of a controversy where he irked the Kshatriya community through his derogatory remarks.

Congress leader Dhanani is from the Leva Patel community.

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Battle lines drawn in Rajkot as Cong’s Dhanani steps up to contest against BJP’s Rupala