Gujarat: BJP names 28 candidates for Junagadh District Panchayat; 24 new faces debut
Junagadh, April 11
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday announced candidates for 28 out of the 30 seats in the Junagadh District Panchayat.
The announcement was made following a meeting of the State Election Committee chaired by Gujarat BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma.
Candidates for the Kalsari seats in Bhesan and Visavadar constituencies are yet to be finalised and will be announced at a later stage.
Asmita Thummar, wife of former District Panchayat President Haresh Thummar, has been given the party ticket for the Mendarda seat.
Similarly, Leenaben Kavani, wife of former Vice President Vipul Kavani, has been fielded from the Sarsai seat.
The decision highlights that tickets have been allotted to the spouses of both former top office bearers of the district body.
Out of the 28 candidates announced so far, four are re-nominations, while the remaining 24 candidates are first-time entrants, marking a significant infusion of new faces in the party's local leadership lineup. The BJP leadership stated that the selection reflects its strategy to strengthen grassroots representation and bring in fresh leadership for local governance bodies.
Earlier, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, while addressing a gathering in Ahmedabad on Gujarat local body elections, urged voters to actively participate in the democratic process.
He said, " I request all of you to exercise your right to vote on April 26th, which is the voting day (for local body polls). Ensure the success of all your party candidates. Remember that unless you ensure the success of your candidates in such local bodies, wards, and municipal elections, your leadership will not emerge from the grassroots. Remember, the reality of India's democracy is that justice will be served only by a society that has a leader. Any society or community that lacks a leader will continue to be oppressed. Their traditional rights will be taken away, and they will be reduced to second-class citizens. Muslims are certainly the largest minority in this country, but our misfortune has been that we have reduced ourselves to mere voters. We should have given ourselves citizenship rights, but we have fallen prey to the deceptive lies of these cunning political parties."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Interesting to see tickets given to spouses of former office bearers. While it's good to have experienced political families, I hope merit was the primary criteria. We need leaders who can deliver on local issues like water, roads, and schools.
Owaisi's comments are quite pointed. While he is speaking to a specific community, the broader point about grassroots leadership is valid for everyone. In a democracy, every community needs strong local representatives to voice their concerns effectively.
As an observer of Indian politics, the infusion of 24 new candidates out of 28 is a significant refresh. It shows confidence in the party's brand to carry newcomers. The real test will be their performance on local issues post-election.
Panchayat elections are the foundation of our democracy. Hope these new faces, whether from political families or not, understand the responsibility. Junagadh needs development focused on agriculture and tourism. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
With all due respect to the party's strategy, I have a small criticism. While new faces are welcome, giving tickets to spouses of former leaders sometimes feels like dynasty politics at the local level. True grassroots representation should come from diverse backgrounds, not just political families. Let's hope they prove their worth through work.
M Michael C