AAP may play spoilsport for BJP, Congress in Rajkot

RAJKOT: It might not be a cakewalk for BJP in the saffron bastion Rajkot. And, playing the spoilsport could be the rookie political outfit Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has decided to field a Leuva Patel candidate and lawyer Pinal Savalia.
While Savalia may not be a known name in the city, the fact that BJP' candidate Mohan Kundariya who may also struggle to find adequate voters' support, political observers said.
Savalia, 31, has fought several cases against money lenders free of cost for people, sources said.
Rajkot LS seat has become crucial for BJP whose candidate Kiran Patel, a Kadva Patel candidate, lost to Congress' Kunvarji Bavalia in 2009. Kundariya, also a Kadva Patel, has already courted controversy by walking on students during Yoga function in city last week. An inquiry has also been initiated against Kundaria in connection with the video showing him walking over Gurukul students at Yoga function.
"Besides the controversy, large number of ceramic industrialists are also unhappy with Kundariya after they found little support from him in their agitation in December last year," a BJP insider told TOI.
"BJP has again played gamble in Rajkot by giving selecting Kadva Patel candidate when Leuva Patel voters have dominance," the insider said.
Though chief minister Narendra Modi tried to get back Leuva Patel into BJP fold by inducting heavyweight Vitthal Radadia and Keshubhai Patel's son Bharat Patel among others, Leuva Patel's loyalty to BJP will be tested in Rajkot LS poll in which it has over 13 percent voters.
Sources said that BJP had to give a ticket to Kadva Patel as there was no other option except Rajkot to accommodate this community candidate in Saurashtra region.