Gandhinagar:The State president of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the first day of Central Election Committee meeting made announcement that the party will not give ticket to those above sixty years of age, those who have been elected for three or more terms and relatives of any party leader in upcoming local elections.

Two of most popular councillors of Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) have reacted in critical manner in response to party’s decision.

Vasna councillor Amit Shah has completed over three terms. He had sought ticket for his son Sunny Shah as his replacement. However, due to party’s new criteria of deselection, neither he, nor his son is going to get party’s nod to contest.

When asked by media persons, Shah replied ‘my one son is Dutch citizen and settled in Netherlands. I haven’t sought ticket for him. I am seeking ticket for my other son who has been office bearers of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) at ward level as well as at city level in various capacities. He is eligible for party ticket, but it seems his only fault is that he is my son. Now he will seek ticket next time.’

When asked to comment about party’s decision to not repeat those who have completed three or more terms, Shah said, ‘I believe that the party will need senior councillors to counter the opposition Congress councillors who have experience of three terms or more’.

Shah who has been city’s Mayor, leader of opposition, leader of ruling party group, city BJP chief and more said he and his son would work hard to ensure victory of whoever is the candidate of party in his ward. Shah had come out with a booklet of works done by him in his ward in capacity of councillor. He had also started a campaign with his photographs in hoardings in entire Vasna area. He is party’s guardian for Anand district. He was one of contenders for party ticket to contest Ellis bridge assembly constituency. He today in reply to a question said, the party would not make sit senior leaders idle and assign some work for sure.

Another party leader who is going to be affected due to party’s criteria of deselection is Khadia councillor Mayur Dave. He is senior councillor who have completed more than three terms. Dave opined, ‘I am sure, the party would make exception for some names in its criteria.’ He added that new councillors generally are unable to ensure works getting done through the officers who don’t respond to new councillors.’

Both Amit Shah and Mayur Dave were very active, serving the people of their constituency during Covid19 pandemic. In fact both were infected eventually by Covid19 virus and hospitalized.

In Surat, supporters of sitting councillor Nirav Shah staged demonstration with placards in their hand, demanding ticket for him. Nirav Shah has completed three terms, and as per the new criteria he will be dropped. His supporters said they wanted only Nirav Shah as local Jain candidate, as he had served the constituency, and Jain community in his best capacity through all these years.

Several other senior leaders including Pravin Patel, former Standing Committer Chairman of AMC, Jigishaben, former Mayor of Vadodara, Meenakshi Patel, former Mayor of Ahmedabad have supported party’s newly introduced criteria and opined that two-term councillors below 60 have come experience that they shall pass to single term and zero term councillors. Jigishaben said she had herself asked the party in advance that she didn’t want to contest this time. She said the party has training module through which inexperienced new councillors will be trained. Jigishaben said, the youths will get more chance thanks to party’s new criteria.

DeshGujarat