The BJP on Wednesday suspended its Bardoli taluka panchayat vice-president Bipinchandara Chaudhary for “anti-party activities” after he independently filed his nomination for the Sumul Dairy bypolls even as the leader refused to back down saying he is “ready to bear the consequences”.
The BJP is backing Jitendra Patel from the Bamni Village Milk Cooperative Committee for the Bardoli seat which was lying vacant for the past two years after its director Ajit Patel resigned.
The byelection to Bardoli seat is scheduled on August 5.
Confirming his suspension, Surat district BJP president Bharat Rathod told The Indian Express that the party leaders tried to convince Chaudhary to withdraw his form but he declined and filed his papers.
“During the party’s coordination meeting, it was decided that the party will support Jitendra Patel. Bipin Chaudhary was also present in the meeting and still he filed his papers for the Sumul Daily bypolls. He has been suspended from the party for anti-party activities.”
Rathod said, “Our party rules the Bardoli taluka panchayat (TP) where Bipin Chaudhary held the post of vice president. In the next couple of days, the elected party members of Bardoli TP will submit a proposal of no-confidence motion against Chaudhary before Bardoli TP president Jamnaben Rathod. A meeting will be called to vote against him and later his post will also be snatched. His wife is Balda gram panchayat Sarpanch and we are moving ahead to bring her down.”
Meanwhile, Bipin Chaudhary said, “I am against the procedure of BJP mandate in the cooperative sector election and for that, I have not withdrawn my candidature. I will stick to it (my decision) even after the suspension… even if they take the vice president’s post away. I have been in the party for 30 years and will stick to it till my last breath. I am ready to bear the consequences.”
“The party should treat everyone equally. Why no steps were taken against the Jetpur BJP MLA Jayesh Radadiya when he contested the IFFCO election against the party mandate. I am a small leader, so the party has targeted me. The small leaders become victims and no actions are taken on the big leader.”
Earlier on July 20, the election officer rejected Congress leader Suresh Chaudhary’s candidature for the bypolls under The Cooperative Act citing that the former owes Rs 3.75 lakh worth dues to a cooperative firm.
