Lok Sabha polls 2014: Gujarat; Several poll contenders hold 'roots' in rival parties

AHMEDABAD: The saying that in politics there are no permanent friends or foes holds merit as several Lok Sabha poll contenders from both ruling BJP and Opposition Congress in Gujarat have their 'roots' in rival parties.

While 11 out of the 26 BJP nominees are either 'imported' from Congress, or their family roots can be traced back to that party, Congress too has three nominees having their foundation in BJP.

Vinod Chavda, who will be contesting on BJP ticket from Kutchh(SC), was associated with Congress till 2010. He started his political career as a student leader with that party, backed student wing NSUI and joined youth Congress.

According to Congress, he switched sides in 2010 when BJP offered him a ticket for zilla panchayat election.

BJP MLA Poonam Madam, fighting from Jamnagar seat on BJP ticket, is the niece of sitting Congress MP from Jamanagar Vikram Madam. Congress leaders claimed that the whole Madam family, including Poonam, has been associated with Congress.

Poonam was the general secretary of Women's Congress in Jamanagar, but switched her loyalty after she was denied ticket in 2012 Assembly election. She then won as MLA from Khambhaliya on BJP ticket and is now pitted against her uncle Vikram Madam.

Vitthal Radadia, who has been given BJP ticket from Porbandar seat, was a Congress loyalist for years. He won thrice as MLA and once as MP from same seat on Congress ticket. His son Jayesh Radadia also won as Congress MLA from Jetpur.

Giving a huge jolt to Congress, the father-son duo left Congress in 2012 and joined BJP after resigning from their respective positions as MP and MLA.

For Surendranagar seat, BJP has given ticket to Devji Fatehpura, who joined the party four months back. He won as MLA from Halvad on Congress ticket in 2007. He was again given Assembly ticket by Congress for Chotila seat in 2012, but he lost.

Liladhar Vaghela, chosen for Patan seat by BJP, had been a veteran Congress leader before switching sides. He won his first election as MLA from Diodar on Congress ticket and retained it till 1985. He joined BJP in 1995.

Just like Vaghela, the roots of BJP candidate for Godhra Prabhatsinh Chauhan can be traced back to Congress. Chauhan won twice as Congress MLA between 1985 and 1990. He joined BJP in 1995 after being denied ticket by Congress.

The other BJP contenders having Congress 'genes' include Ramsinh Rathva from Chhota Udepur, Prabhu Vasava from Bardoli, Dr KC Solanki from Ahmedabad West(SC), Dr KC Patel from Valsad and Devusinh Chauhan from Kheda.

Congress has also given tickets to three BJP leaders who shifted loyalty.

Most noteworthy among them is Shankarsinh Vaghela, who has been given ticket by Congress from Sabarkantha seat. He started as a humble RSS worker during late 70s and then joined the BJP during 80s till 1996. In 1998, he joined Congress.

Another heavyweight leader is Soma Ganda Patel, who is contesting from Surendranagar. He started his political career with BJP and became president of Viramgam taluka panchayat in 1980. He left the BJP before the 2009 Lok Sabha elections and joined Congress, on whose ticket he won.

Bhavsinh Rathod, the Congress' nominee from Patan, may not be considered BJP loyalist. He jumped ship twice between 2007 and 2012. He won as Congress MLA from Sami-Harij Assembly seat in 2007. When Congress refused him a Lok Sabha ticket from Patan in 2009, he left Congress and joined BJP, but lost the election. In 2012, he returned to Congress.

Congress also claimed that 4 out of 7 BJP candidates for Assembly by-polls in the state are also "imported" from them by the saffron party.

"This trend shows the downfall of BJP in Gujarat. Unlike Congress, BJP failed to produce strong and popular leaders, who can ensure their victory here. Those who had potential, have been sidelined and dumped in the past. Thus, BJP is left with no other option but to import leaders from our party," claimed state Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi.

On the other hand, state BJP raised questions about the "originality" of Congress leaders.

"Congress is spreading wrong information. I would like to know how many original Congress leaders are there in the party? Because most of them are either from Janta Dal, BJP or other parties. Shankarsinh Vaghela, who is the Leader of Opposition in Assembly, is originally from BJP," said BJP media convener Harshad Patel.