Vadodara, Candidates of the ruling BJP and opposition Congress filed their nomination papers on Monday for the July 30 bypoll to the Manjalpur assembly constituency in Gujarat's Vadodara city, with both parties claiming they would win.
The bypoll was necessitated due to the death of BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Yogesh Patel on June 2 after a prolonged illness.
Congress candidate Bhikhabhai Rabari, vice president of the Gujarat Congress and a former state minister, said the election would be fought on issues affecting the constituency and Vadodara city, including poor civic infrastructure, traffic congestion and alleged corruption.
"There are many issues. The problems affecting the entire city are also the issues of Manjalpur. Traffic, dirty drinking water, overflowing drainage and poor roads are some of the major concerns. The BJP has failed to address these issues," Rabari told reporters after filing his nomination.
Claiming the BJP government had failed to deliver on its promises of developing Vadodara as a smart city, Rabari alleged that corruption had become rampant under its rule. He said he wanted to become the voice of the people and fight against "one-sided rule".
On his prospects, Rabari said, "Victory or defeat will be decided by the electorate, but I am contesting to win." BJP nominee Satish Patel said his priority would be to complete the unfinished works of late Yogesh Patel and carry forward his vision for the constituency.
"The incomplete works of Yogeshbhai will be completed. We will continue what Yogeshbhai started and also undertake new initiatives. We will fulfil the vision he had for Manjalpur," Patel said.
Patel said the BJP has full faith in its workers and the electorate.
"This seat has always belonged to the Bharatiya Janata Party and will remain with the BJP. The people have decided that by voting in large numbers they will pay true tribute to late Yogeshbhai Patel," he said.
The BJP had announced Satish Patel, a former Vadodara Municipal Corporation councillor and ex-president of the party's Vadodara district unit, as its candidate on July 10. Rabari was named the Congress candidate on July 12.
Voting for the by-election will be held on July 30 and the counting of votes will take place on August 3.
