171 Mehsana Congressmen wave flag of revolt against Raval

Palanpur, Nov 26 (UNI) As many as 171 Congress workers including nine members of Mehsana taluka panchayat and 11 members of civic body have resigned.

Presently, Congress hasa 14 members in taluka panchayat and 13 municipal counsellors. The protest is against the decision to field Naresh Rawal in place of a popular leader Natubhai Pintambar Das Patel from Mehsana constituency, said Ramesh Patel popularly known as Bhuri. Several others are coming out waving the flag of revolt against the injustice.

Bhuri said since the district Congress President Chunaji Thakur is not present, the resignation letters were given to Chaturbhai Chawda, an office bearer in the party office.

''Nareshbhai Raval, vis-a-vis the popular leader Natubhai Pintambar Das Patel, is an outsider and the party worker does not want someone to be imposed from outside. Nareshbhai belongs to Kheralu. He cannot ask for his pound of flesh from the devoted leader Natubhai Pitambardas Patel in order to accommodate a BJP dissident Ramilaben Desai. We oppose the move and shall fight tooth and nail against injustice. Another exodus from the party is in the offing,'' claimed Bhuri.

Meanwhile party Secretary state unit Dilip Chaudhri said ''The party stands by Nareshbhai Raval. Disgruntled elements will come round and work unitedly to defeat BJP in Mehsana. The resentment will soon subside'' Naresh Raval had contested the elections from Vijapur in 2002.

He sought change of constituency and demanded Shahpur constituency in Ahmedabad but the party favoured a minority community candidate from there. Mr Raval was given ticket from Mehsana against the wishes of the party workers.

UNI