Vadodara, India: In a surprising turn of events, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Ranjanben Bhatt has decided to withdraw her candidature for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Vadodara, Gujarat despite the party endorsing her ticket. Bhatt, who currently serves as the BJP MP for Vadodara, announced her decision via social media, citing her unwillingness to contest in the elections. This unexpected move comes in the wake of opposition from a section of local cadres.
Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) from Vadodara for two consecutive terms. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Ranjanben Bhatt secured victory with a margin of 3,29,000 votes, while in 2019, she won by a substantial margin of close to 6,00,000 votes.
The development has sparked concerns among political circles in Vadodara, particularly after posters denouncing MP Ranjanben Bhatt surfaced in various locations across the city. Unidentified individuals plastered anti-Bhatt banners near Jagruti Society, Lallubhai Park, and Zavernagar on Harni Road, prompting swift action from election officials and local police. Officer Chiragbhai spearheaded efforts to remove the contentious posters, but the incident has left authorities vigilant, awaiting further actions to address the situation.
In a separate political development in Gujarat, Congress leader Rohan Gupta made headlines after resigning from the grand old party. Gupta, who had earlier withdrawn his candidature from the Ahmedabad East constituency for the Lok Sabha elections 2024, cited “constant humiliation” and “character assassination” as reasons for his departure from the Congress ranks.
These recent political maneuvers have injected fresh dynamics into the electoral landscape of Gujarat, setting the stage for a closely watched contest in Vadodara and beyond.
