Woman Had Filed Papers As Independent Against Ex-minister’s Wife
Woman Contesting as Independent Against Former Minister’s Wife Withdraws Name; MLA Takes Her by the Hand to Election Office
Woman Contesting as Independent Against Former Minister’s Wife Withdraws Name; MLA Takes Her by the Hand to Election Office
Bhilwara: The political landscape in Bhilwara is heating up as voting for 45 seats of Bhilwara Zila Parishad approaches. The election process is set to occur in two phases, with the last day for withdrawing nominations having passed Thursday.In a dramatic turn of events, independent candidate Rekha Devi Teli, who previously announced her candidacy for Ward No 29 after diverging from BJP, withdrew her nomination just minutes before the deadline. Her decision came allegedly amid intense pressure from BJP members, showcasing the political manoeuvring typical of the lead-up to local elections.Rekha, who was set to contest against Saroj Devi Gurjar—the wife of former Panchayat Raj minister Kalu Lal Gurjar—arrived at the district election office just before the final cutoff, where an unexpected scene unfolded.BJP MLA Ladu Lal Pitaliya, showcasing party solidarity, escorted Rekha Devi by the hand to the election officer. In a statement after her withdrawal, Rekha affirmed her alignment with BJP, declaring, “I follow the policies and principles of BJP. I have withdrawn the nomination in support of former minister’s wife, sister Saroj Devi.”The last-minute withdrawal follows a series of strategic negotiations aimed at persuading rebel candidates from both major parties—BJP and Congress—to align themselves with official party candidates. BJP appears to be taking a proactive approach in reinforcing its candidates by effectively navigating challenges posed by disaffected members.Saroj Devi Gurjar, once a pradhan of Suwana Panchayat Samiti and now a key candidate, has received a significant boost with the support of Rekha’s withdrawal. The dynamics of the upcoming election are increasingly complex as BJP seeks to maintain its dominance in local governance amid the competition.With the nomination period now closed, all eyes are on the voter turnout and the political implications of these actions as Bhilwara gears up for crucial elections that could reshape its local leadership.
