With just three days left for filing nominations in the upcoming local self-government elections, the BJP in Gujarat is facing mounting dissent across Ahmedabad and several districts and talukas.
The flashpoint is the party's move to field OBC candidates even in general category seats, despite the newly implemented 27% OBC reservation.
The decision has triggered widespread anger among party workers and local leaders, forcing the announcement of candidates for some local bodies to be temporarily halted on Wednesday. Since 2005, the BJP had successfully countered internal resistance by promoting young, educated OBC faces a strategy that helped the party dominate local bodies and marginalize the Congress.
But this election marks the first time OBC reservation is in effect alongside quotas for women and SC/ST candidates, sharply reducing opportunities for general category male aspirants. Leaders from these constituencies are demanding that general seats be allotted to them.
According to insiders, candidate hearings began Tuesday through parliamentary board meetings. In many districts and municipalities, OBC names were included in panels even for general seats, sparking sharp protests. Whether the BJP will push through its choices or revise lists based on local feedback remains uncertain. Party workers are signalling they may assert their strength if changes are not made.
Anger over favoritism
In Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Vadodara, Kutch, and North Gujarat districts, coordination meetings saw recommended names sidelined in favour of legislators' preferred candidates. Furious leaders confronted ministers, escalating the issue to the parliamentary board, which has demanded details of the feedback-based candidate lists.