According to political sources, in both these towns, BJP MLAs have played a vital role in declaring their respective nagar palika as ‘Samras’.

When contacted, Zishan Naqvi from Kodinar nagar palika said, “Of course, our MLA Dinubhai Solanki from Kodinar has played a key role in mustering the support of all the concerned communities. They have put faith in his words and the result is clear — no one has filed nomination from the 27 seats in the nine wards,” he said.

According to Naqvi, during his previous term too, Kodinar nagar palika went ‘Samras.’ Naqvi said, before he filed his nomination, they convened a meeting in which it was decided that Kodinar Nagar Palika should go ‘Samras’ this time too. “Seat sharing was made in line with the community’s population in town. Besides, all communities have been given proper representation,” Naqvi said.

“Considering population ratio, out of the total 27 seats of nine wards, Muslim, Karadia and Koli communities were allotted six seats each, while nine were allotted to other communities, particularly Brahmin, Lohana, Patel (upper castes) and scheduled castes,” Naqvi said, adding that all (communities) have been proportionally represented.” On being asked why the Congress did not file a single candidate in Kodinar, Junagadh District Congress unit president Jetha Jora said, it’s all because of the

parallel government of BJP MLA Dinu Solanki.

“If any person dares to file his/her nomination, Solanki’s musclemen will force him/her to withdraw it at any cost. They use all malpractice like physically assaulting the candidates to even threatening them to withdraw the nomination,” said Jora. He said police and civil administration also remain mute spectators and inactive. Some two-three candidates had filed their nomination on BSP tickets, and they were beaten in public, he said.