BJP workers oppose Rajendra Gavit's candidature

Mumbai: A section of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and leaders in Palghar district have opposed the candidature of Rajendra Gavit, who recently quit the party and joined the Shiv Sena to get a ticket for the Palghar Lok Sabha, a seat adjoining Mumbai.

Mr Gavit, who is the sitting BJP Member of Parliament in Palghar, left the Congress and joined BJP last year to fight the Palghar by-poll held following the death of sitting BJP MP Chintaman Vanaga, where he won.

After the pre-poll alliance between the BJP and Sena, the Palghar Lok Sabha seat was reserved for the Sena. In the meeting held on Thursday, the BJP workers and leaders expressed their disappointment saying that the BJP had worked hard since last year to elect a BJP candidate from the Palghar seat however, as the seat went to the Sena, their efforts were in vain.

While, BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhyay, said, “We understand the emotions and efforts of the local karyakartas. The BJP and Sena are together now and chief minister Devendra Fad-navis and Sena chief Ud-dhav Thackeray have ta-ken joint meetings with the leaders. The BJP will support the Sena candidate in Palghar.”

Meanwhile, at a rally in the district, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) lea-der and MLA Hitendra Thakur lashed out at Mr Gavit for switching loyalties. “It is shameful to do so as he is betraying the voters. They are confused as to which party the candidate belongs to,” Mr Thakur said.