Amid the BJP’s internal crisis in Rajkot, Vadodara, and Amreli, Sabarkantha’s scene seemed to turn dire, which prompted the Gujarat chief minister to pacify dissenting voices among party workers in Sabarkantha and Aravalli districts against Lok Sabha candidate Shobhna Baraiya.

The episode started when, in lieu of previous Sabarkantha Lok Sabha candidate Bhikhaji Thakor, the BJP chose turncoat MLA Mahendra Baraiya’s wife, Shobhna Baraiya, as the candidate.

To resolve the dispute, the home minister himself rushed to Himmatnagar, and following that, CM Bhupendra Patel called the local MLAs at his residence for a one-to-one meeting, which went on for five hours.

The office-bearers of Sabarkantha and Aravalli demanded the candidature of Thakor instead of a turncoat’s wife. After the meeting, a report was sent to the high command.

Baraiya’s dilemma

On the other hand, Sabarkantha Lok Sabha candidate Baraiya has fallen between two stools, as she might lose her job and even her candidature.

After the BJP announced her as the candidate, she voluntarily resigned from her government teaching position, which was accepted by the education department.

However, if circumstances change and she loses her candidature, she risks losing both her government job and the ticket.

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