Summary:
Surat, December 8 (PTI) Sitting BJP MLA Kisorebhai Kanani took a comfortable lead over rival Alpesh Kathiria of the Aam Admi Party in Varachha Road constituency, dashing the latter’s hopes of gaining a foothold in the diamond and textile hub of Surat.
After 18 rounds of voting, Kanani had polled 67,177 votes, staying ahead of Kathiria by a good distance.
Kathiria had polled 50,285 votes, while the Congress candidate could garner only 2,939 votes.
The contest in Varachha turned hot after the AAP fielded Alpesh Kathiria, a prominent face of 2015 Patidar agitation for reservation in jobs, to wrest the seat from the BJP.
Kanani, who has won this seat in 2012 and 2017, was a minister in the state government between 2017 and 2021.
Home to many of Surat’s diamond workers, Varachha has been a BJP stronghold where Patidars hold the key to any electoral wins and losses.
They constitute 90 per cent of Varachha’s 2.2-lakh electorate.
The BJP has won from here in 2012 and 2017.
The patidars, or the Patels as they are popularly known, account for 18 percent of Gujarat’s population.
More than their numerical strength, the Patels wield significant political influence because of their money power and strong network.