The fight in the Kalol constituency is high on TRP ratings, with the Chauhan family patriarch and state minister Prabhatsinh Chauhan shifted from here on Wednesday to hold the BJP’s fort in sensitive Godhra. His rebel son Pravinsinh, whom Prabhatsinh keeps disowning, has thrown in the gauntlet as an Independent. However, he has some tough competition from his wife Suman. She is the dummy candidate of the BJP here and may well cash in on the goodwill left behind by her father-in-law Prabhatsinh.

The minister was set to seek re-election from Kalol this time around, but was whisked away to Godhra on Wednesday — the last day of filing nominations. Chauhan Sr has won three elections from this constituency. However, unwilling to leave his constituency to his son and daughter-in-law, Chauhan has fielded his close friend and confidante Arvindsinh Rathod as the BJP candidate from Kalol.

On the other hand, son Pravinsinh quickly filed papers from here the moment it was announced that his father was being shifted to Godhra. Chauhan Jr, it is learnt, is also contesting as an Independent from Godhra. Pravinsinh does not have an enviable track record in politics nor with the police. He faces charges of bootlegging after the Panchmahals police seized a huge consignment of alcohol from one of his trucks. He recently got anticipatory bail from the Gujarat High Court. When contacted, Prabhatsinh refused to comment on his son’s political ambitions. He said, “I have nothing to do with him or he with me.” His son was not available for comment. Neither was his wife Suman.