BJP sacks five Kodinar leaders for anti-party activity

RAJKOT: Just four days before taluka and district panchayat elections, the BJP suspended its five prominent faces in Kodinar taluka for indulging in anti-party activity.
The five leaders have chosen to contest the Kodinar taluka panchayat polls as independents despite being given a mandate by the BJP.
Those suspended are close aides of former Junagadh BJP MP Dinu Solanki, an accused in the murder of RTI activist Amit Jethva.Solanki, who is out on bail, wants to maintain his political clout in coastal villages of Kodinar after being sidelined by the party.
BJP suspended Varsing Vala, the president of Kodinar taluka panchayat; Natu Vala, chairman of Bileshwar Sugar Cooperative; Pratapsinh Vala, vice-chairman of the sugar cooperative; Sursinh Dodiya and Dilip Mori.
"Party has decided to sack them from primary membership for six years for their anti-party activity and disregard for party's mandate,'' Zaveri Thakrar, president of BJP's Gir-Somnath district unit, told TOI.
Thakrar said all five had contested on BJP tickets in the past in Kodinar taluka panchayat but are now fighting as independents.
There 22 seats each in Kodinar panchayat and Gir-Somnath district panchayat.
Sources said that Dinu Solanki's men are contesting on 20 seats in Kodinar and on five in the district panchayat as independents.
Thakrar, however, ruled out any action against the tainted MP. "The BJP leaders who are suspended were once supporters of Solanki but now are campaigning against the party. Therefore, the disciplinary actions against them,'' he added.
BJP insiders said that Solanki wants to establish his supremacy in Kodinar as his men control the local marketing yard, sugar co-operative, a co-operative bank, Kodinar municipality and other important bodies.
"Local polls are crucial for Solanki as the Kodinar assembly seat from where he was elected as MLA has been reserved for scheduled caste now. As an accused in a murder case, it is unlikely that he will get a ticket in the assembly or Lok Sabha elections," a local BJP leader told TOI.