Vadodara, March 23 (IANS) Ranjan Bhatt, the incumbent BJP MP from Vadodara, has announced her decision not to contest in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections due to personal reasons. The declaration has caused a stir in the political arena of Vadodara, where opposition to her potential candidacy has been growing.
In a statement on her official X account, Bhatt said, “I, Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt, am unwilling to contest the Lok Sabha elections 2024 due to personal reasons.” Her choice to step back from the seat previously held by Prime Minister Modi until 2014 has led to dissent within the BJP ranks and among voters in Vadodara.
Ahead of Bhatt’s announcement, posters and banners opposing her potential third term were seen across the city, indicating growing dissatisfaction with her candidacy. This discontent will now prompt the BJP to reconsider its candidate selection for Vadodara as the 2024 general elections approach.
Despite being nominated by the BJP for the Vadodara seat in their second candidate list released on March 14, Bhatt’s unexpected decision to not contest for a third term has caught many by surprise. Since winning the 2014 bye-elections following Prime Minister Modi’s vacancy of the seat, Bhatt has been a prominent figure in Vadodara’s political landscape.
The BJP will now need to find a new candidate for the Vadodara constituency, as Bhatt’s exit from the race has added a new dimension to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024. The party’s decision on selecting a replacement for Bhatt will be crucial in maintaining their stronghold in Vadodara and securing victory in the upcoming polls.
