Amidst internal discord within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the selection of candidates for Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat embarked on a three-day tour of the state, starting with Vadodara. Bhagwat’s visit holds significance against the backdrop of ongoing protests and discontent within the BJP ranks regarding several candidate nominations.
During his visit to Vadodara and Bharuch, Bhagwat engaged in interactive sessions with intellectuals, as confirmed by RSS office-bearers. The timing of his visit is notable, as the dissent within the BJP initially surfaced in Vadodara following objections to Ranjan Bhatt’s candidature for the Vadodara seat. This led to protests, including the resignation of Jyoti Pandya, vice president of BJP’s Rashtriya Mahila Morcha. Subsequently, Bhatt withdrew her candidacy, prompting the announcement of Hemang Joshi as the new candidate, which also met with resistance.
Discontent further intensified over the nomination of Union Minister Purushottam Rupala in Rajkot, following alleged derogatory remarks against the Kshatriya community. Despite Rupala’s apology, protests escalated, with calls for his replacement, including threats of self-immolation by women from the Kshatriya community if he remains the BJP candidate.
Similar dissidence is observed over nominations for Bharuch, Valsad, and Sabarkantha Lok Sabha seats, indicating a broader trend of factionalism within the Gujarat BJP.
According to an RSS leader, Bhagwat’s visit holds strategic importance, providing him with an opportunity to engage with key stakeholders and address the growing discontent within the BJP’s ranks, particularly amidst rising tensions in various constituencies.
Bhagwat’s itinerary includes a visit to Dutt Mandir at Garudeshwar and another session with intellectuals in Vadodara on Sunday, followed by an overnight stay in Ahmedabad, before concluding his tour on Monday.