Dehgam protests against denial of Lok Sabha ticket to Pathak

Dehgam town of Gandhinagar district observed a total shut down today in protest against the denial of a Lok Sabha ticket to seven-time BJP MP Harin Pathak from the Ahmedabad East seat.
All shops and business establishments in the town remained closed from the morning in support of Pathak.
The BJP has denied a Lok Sabha ticket to Advani loyalist Pathak and instead fielded actor Paresh Rawal from the Ahmedabad East constituency, in which Dehgam town falls.
"People have decided to observe the shut down on their own in support of Pathak, who has been a good MP and helpful to people for the last several years," a Dehgam resident said.

"BJP workers have not given a shut down call. People of the town have decided to shut down on their own," BJP president Bijal Amin said.
Yesterday, BJP workers had burnt an effigy of actor Paresh Rawal and also held a protest against the decision to give a Lok Sabha ticket to him.

"I am deeply hurt about the denial of ticket. Hundreds of my party workers are coming to me on the issue. In the next three days, I will consult my workers before deciding my future course of action," Pathak had said yesterday.
The BJP's Gujarat unit rushed senior party leaders to this town today to calm down BJP workers.

"We met them and assured them that Pathak will be accommodated well in the party after the polls," a senior BJP leader told party workers in Dehgam.