In Gujarat’s political arena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been grappling with a surge in defections and internal dissent while gearing up for crucial Lok Sabha and Assembly bye elections.

As the BJP is favouring Congress turncoats over loyal and wannabe-contender BJP members for the seats in Gujarat, the party witnesses backlash from party members.

Internal ruckus flared up in the party after a total of 11 turncoats from Congress were fielded for Lok Sabha and bye elections in Gujarat.

The quandary is that, for years, aspiring original BJP leaders have harboured dissatisfaction with the party's policy of restricting their ability to contest elections.

Candidates of Congress background

Candidates announced by the BJP who are former members of the Congress party include Prabhu Vasava, Poonam Madam, Bharatsinh Dabhi, Devusinh Chauhan, Vinod Chavda, Arjun Modhwadia, CJ Chavda, Chirag Patel, and Arvind Ladani.

The BJP's decision to support turncoats reflects its strategy to secure victory in the upcoming elections. However, this approach has irked many original BJP leaders who feel overlooked and resentful.

BJP leaders’ seat on stake

Chandu Shihora in Surendranagar and Shobhana Baraiya in Sabarkantha have been given tickets, due to which BJP central ministers Mahendra Moonjpara and Dipsinh Rathore are off the contender list.

MLA CJ Chavda has been given a ticket for the Vijapur seat, which has angered local BJP leaders. The former chief of Vijapur taluka panchayat, Govind Patel, resigned and expressed his discontent, saying, “If a turncoat is given the ticket, what about the future of the workers of the original BJP ideology? I’ve requested the tickets eight times, but I get only one answer from the party: next time. So far, the party has not valued us.”

In essence, the BJP’s handling of turncoats has led to a crisis of confidence within the party. 

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