Three congressmen met Vijay Rupani before Rajya Sabha’s polls.
Ahmedabad:
Prior to Rajya Sabha’s polls in Gujarat slated for later this month, three congressmen held meetings with chief minister Vijay Rupani and deputy chief minister Nitin Patel in Gandhinagar on Wednesday, sparking defection speculation.
However, these opposition members refuted the rumors and claimed that they had gone to make representations on various issues related to coronavirus and locking.
Congress legislators Kirit Patel, Lalit Vasoya and Lalit Kagathara met with the chief minister and his deputy to the secretary of state in Gandhinagar on Wednesday afternoon.
Asked about their sudden meeting with the ruling BJP leaders, Kirit Patel, who represents the seat of the Patan Assembly, said that none of them joined the ruling party.
“We went to meet deputy CM and then Rupani with a few requests. During our meeting with Nitin Patel, I urged him to extend the bed capacity of the Dharpur hospital in Patan so that a larger number of patients with coronavirus from northern Gujarat can be treated there. ” Patel told reporters.
Mr. Kagathara and Mr. Vasoya said they had requested the withdrawal of complaints against people, especially farmers, during the foreclosure.
“There is no question of joining the BJP. Vasoya and I met Nitin Patel and the CM, specifically to demand the withdrawal of the files filed against thousands of people for breach of isolation. Many farmers have also been reserved in such cases. In the coming days, our party also plans to defend this cause, “they said.
Rajya Sabha’s election for four seats in Gujarat is scheduled for June 19. It was to be held in March.
26. However, it was finally postponed for an indefinite period following the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent imposition of a national lockdown.
While Congress presented two candidates, the BJP presented three, making it difficult for the first to win the second seat.
In March, five legislators from Congress resigned a few days after the election was announced.
This had further reduced the chances of Congress to retain the two seats.
Within the Assembly, which has 182 members, the BJP has 103 deputies and the Opposition Congress 68.
The Bharatiya Tribal Party has two deputies and the Nationalist Congress Party one.
A deputy is independent while seven seats are vacant; two due to lawsuits and five due to resignations.
