Koli community wants Bavaliya as Gujarat CLP leader

Trouble seemed to brew for the Congress in Gujarat with the state's Koli community, which is a strong support base of the party, demanding its leader Kunwarji Bavaliya head the party in the assembly instead of Amreli lawmaker Paresh Dhanani.

The Koli community, which comes under the Other Backward Classes (OBC), have planned a massive rally in support of Bawaliya in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

Dhanani has been Saturday named as the Congress Legislature Party leader, making him leader of opposition in the assembly, by Congress President Rahul Gandhi with the party saying there was consensus on his name from the elected legislators.

Bavaliya, Mohansinh Rathwa and others were also among the other contenders.

Bavaliya, who won the Jasdan constituency assembly seat after defeating his BJP rival Bharat Boghra by over 9,000 votes, however sought to distance himself from Wednesday's protest, saying that he was satisfied with the party high command's decision regarding Dhanani.

"I am satisified wih the high command's decision. The event on the 10th is entirely social and has no connection with any demand," he said.

--IANS

amc/vd