BJP suspends 2 Rajkot corporators after kin got 23 houses meant for slum-dwellers

THE BJP on Thursday suspended corporators Devuben Jadav and Vajiben Goltar in the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) from the primary membership of the party for six years after an inquiry found that 23 of their family members had got homes meant for slumdwellers, under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and the Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) inspite of them already owning houses. However, the party stopped short of seeking their disqualification as corporators.

“The two corporators were facing allegations of having indulged in irregularities in housing schemes. Consequently, an inquiry committee was set up. As per its report, there indeed were irregularities... These two corporators are being suspended from the primary membership of BJP for six years,” Mukesh Doshi, president of BJP’S Rajkot city unit, told mediapersons.

The suspension came two days after the BJP served the two showcause notices on Tuesday, asking them why disciplinary action should not be taken against them.

Citing media reports, Congress had alleged that Jadav’s husband Mansukh Jadav and

Goltar’s mother-in-law were among the 23 who had applied for RMC houses in lieu of vacting their huts and kuchcha houses in Sagarnagar, Manchhanagar and Kabir Tekri slums on the bank of Randarda and Lalpari lakes for development of the two lakes.

The 23 were among the 193 applicants who were allotted 1 BHK flats in Gokulnagar and Ambavadi for free on March 7 through a computerised draw of lots. While Gokulnagar houses were constructed by the RMC under RAY, Ambawadi houses were constructed under PMAY.

The BJP, which has absolute majority in the 72-member RMC general board by virtue of having 68 members, stopped short of seeking disqualification of Jadav and Goltar. “They have been removed from the BJP. But they will continue as corporators... naturally as Independents,” said Doshi.

Asked if the party would seek their disqualification as corporators, he said: “It is not within my powers. As president of the unit, I am directly responsible, as directed by our state high command, to suspend them from the party for six years... Party does not want any such workers.”

Doshi said the party was not satisfied with the reply the two corporators had given to the showcause notices.