3 Gujarat BJP MLAs upset over state govt functioning

Three BJP legislators from Baroda district on Wednesday came out in open to voice their dissatisfaction against workings of the Gujarat government.

Three legislators, Madhu Shrivastava from Waghodia constituency, Yogesh Patel from Majalpur and Ketan Inamdar from Savli expressed discontent against what they called a callous attitude of officials, including towards elected representatives.

“For last six months since this government has taken charge, the officials in the state are working as per their mood. Even the legislators have to stand in a queue. We need to teach such officials a lesson,” Shrivastava told reporters.

His angst was echoed by Patel, who said that their only demand was that when they seek a resolution to the issues of their electorate, it must be sorted out.

Inamdar said that while their voice was not against the party or the government, they were angry with the attitude of officials. “The government which is trying to do best for the people, definitely would have control over officials but it appears that because the officials have been on the same post for long, they have become thick-skinned,” Inamdar said.

Shrivastava said, in fact, more “discontent” legislators would be joining the three. “Today we are three, tomorrow there may be 13 or 23. Today we three, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, have got together. Now let anything happen,” Shrivastava said.

Interestingly, the noise from legislators comes on the day when deputy chief minister Nitin Patel accepted that he has not been made in-charge CM in the absence of Vijay Rupani, who is currently in Israel on a six-day visit.

“Each chief minister takes a decision on the basis of what he thinks right,” Nitin said.

Meanwhile, the BJP swiftly swung into action, asking senior Cabinet minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama to intervene. “Whatever be the issue, I, Nitin bhai (deputy chief minister) and Jitubhai Vaghani (state BJP president) would speak to them in person and sort out their issues,” Chudsama said.

BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said. “We have touched base with them and asked them to put forth their grievances in the right forum,” he added.

The three have also been summoned by the state party chief for a meeting.