Even as Gujarat’s new cabinet took oath, factionalism within the state BJP has once again flared up, this time in North Gujarat's Kadi.
The seat, long known for its factional undercurrents, has once again erupted into open confrontation between sitting MLA Rajendra Chavda and former Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel’s loyalists.
Tensions that have been building since the last by-election came out in the open during what was supposed to be a normal Diwali celebration. Two groups, one led by MLA Chavda and the other by Nitin Patel’s supporters, organised separate Diwali events on the same day, at the same time, in the same city.
The Kadi APMC, known to be under the influence of Nitin Patel’s camp, had planned its Diwali meet at the Market Yard at 10 am on October 22, while MLA Rajendra Chavda’s faction announced a rival event at Hanumant Plaza, near the Vadwala Hanumanji Temple, from 8 to 11 am.
The deliberate omission of MLA Rajendra Chavda's name from the APMC's official invitation letter added fuel to the fire. Instead, the invite prominently named municipality and market yard authorities aligned with Nitin Patel.
In response, Chavda’s invite includes office bearers from the city and taluka BJP units, Kadi municipality, and Jotana taluka panchayat.
Efforts to reach both leaders for comment went unanswered.
BJP workers are now confused about which Diwali event to attend.
This is not the first time Kadi has witnessed such fissures. During the previous by-election, tensions between former MLA Karshan Solanki and Nitin Patel had already exposed the fragile unity within the party.
Back then, the state BJP tried to contain the crisis by sidelining both warring leaders and fielding Rajendra Chavda of Jotana - a decision that paid off electorally but failed to heal the deeper rift.
With both Nitin Patel’s supporters and Chavda’s group holding separate Diwali events, old rivalries have resurfaced in the Kadi BJP. Sources say Patel’s camp will attend the Market Yard event, while Chavda’s followers will go to Hanumant Plaza.
If this internal feud continues, it could affect BJP’s strength beyond Kadi, weakening its local leadership and party unity before the next assembly elections.
