CM man nominated as city BJP president

Rajkot, Oct 5 (UNI) Despite strong protests and a court case, the state BJP nominated Nitin Bhardwaj, who is also the standing committee chairman of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC), as Rajkot BJP city president.

Rajya Sabha member Vijay Rupani told UNI that Nitin Bhardwaj was elected as the city president late last night.

''We have completed all the constitutional formalities and declared him elected as no other candidates filed their nominations for the post,'' Mr Rupani clarified.

When asked regarding the suit filed by dissident members Prabhatbhai Dangar and Jagdishbhai Gohel, in the court of Civil Judge P M Davda, against BJP chiefs Vajubhai Vala, Ranchhodbhai Rabari, Sandhyaben Vyas and Vibhavariben alleging that the organisational elections were not undertaken as per constituinal norms by the election observers of the party, Rupani replied that the court had dismissed the suit after hearing our side last night.

Meanwhile, dissident member and former BJP city president Jitu Mehta told UNI that ''We could not put up anyone against Bhardwaj as the elections for the post were supposed to be held after Diwali, as Nitin Bhardwaj and city mayor Dhansukh Bhanderi are currently on an official tour of the United Kingdom. But then suddenly they decided that the election date would be on Monday.'' ''We were not given enough time as elections were announed overnight,'' Mr Mehta alleged.

Nitin Bhardwaj had filed the nomination paper for the post before leaving for UK, Rajya Sabha Member Vijay Rupani clarified.

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