Vadodara, July 13 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Satish Patel filed his nomination papers for the Manjalpur Assembly by-election on Monday, with senior party leaders projecting him as an experienced organisation man capable of carrying forward the legacy of eight-time MLA Yogesh Patel, whose death last month triggered the bypoll.

Patel submitted his nomination at the Vadodara Collector’s Office after a show of strength that began with the inauguration of the BJP’s election central office in Manjalpur, followed by a public meeting and a ‘Vijay Vishwas Bike Rally’ led by state BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma.

Senior party leaders, office-bearers, workers and supporters accompanied the candidate during the nomination procession.

Before the public meeting, BJP leaders paid floral tributes to the late Yogesh Patel, whose death on June 2 left the Manjalpur Assembly seat vacant after more than a decade of representing the constituency and eight consecutive Assembly election victories spanning 36 years.

Addressing the gathering, Vishwakarma said the BJP was confident of retaining the constituency.

“The resounding victory of BJP candidate Satish Patel in the by-election will be a true tribute to late Yogesh Patel,” he said, adding that a decisive mandate would further strengthen the development initiatives being implemented in Gujarat under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

He described the BJP as a “Party with a Difference”, saying it was the only political organisation where an ordinary worker could rise through dedication, service and commitment.

“Satish Patel embodied that organisational culture and praised his years of service within the party,” he emphasised.

He also urged party workers to visit every household, maximise voter turnout and work with complete dedication for the BJP’s victory.

In his address, Satish Patel appealed to voters to elect him and said he would work to fulfil the unfinished aspirations of the late Yogesh Patel while continuing the development of Manjalpur.

Patel is a veteran BJP organisation leader with a long association with city politics.

A former president of the Vadodara district BJP, he has also served as general secretary of the district unit, chairman of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation’s Standing Committee, chairman of Chhani Nagarik Sahakari Bank and director of the Baroda Central Cooperative Bank and Vadodara Sugar Cooperative.

He has been elected as a municipal councillor multiple times and is regarded within the party as an experienced organisational and cooperative sector leader.

Party leaders cited his clean image, administrative experience and organisational abilities as the reasons for his nomination. The Manjalpur by-election has become one of Gujarat’s key political contests.

The BJP has fielded Satish Patel, while the Congress has nominated former state minister and Gujarat Congress vice-president Bhikha Rabari.

As per the schedule, nominations close on July 13, scrutiny will be held on July 14, and candidates may withdraw by July 16.

Polling is scheduled for July 30, and counting of votes will take place on August 3.

–IANS

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