Sitting BJP MLA Dilubha files nomination against official nominee

Vadodara, Nov 29 (UNI) Sitting BJP MLA from Vadodara (rural) Dilubha Chudasama caused an embarrassment to the Narendra Modi government by filing his nomination papers as an Independent to contest against official nominee Upendrasinh Gohil.

A total of 70 candidates filed their papers for 13 assembly seats in Vadodara, as filing of nominations for the second phase of Gujarat elections came to a close yesterday.

With this, the total number of nomination increased to 136.

Mr Chudasama, a two-time MLA, who was among seven sitting legislators to be denied party tickets for the 13 seats now held by the BJP, decided to fight as an Independent after his negotiations with Chief Minister Narendra Modi failed.

On monday, Mr Chudasama and another sitting BJP MLA from Nasvadi (st) Kantibhai Bhil had tendered their resignation from the primary membership of the party for not being given ticket.

In Padra constituency, the Congress is faced with a similar rebellion with two of its senior leaders and ticket aspirants -- Dinesh Patel and Jeetsinh Parmar -- yesterday entering the fray as Independents. Yesterday, the new party candidate Narendra Patel filed his papers from Padra.

Former BJP minister Nalin Bhatt, who was recently appointed as Gujarat BSP general secretary, also filed his papers for the city's Sayajiganj seat.

UNI