For the first time since the Manjalpur Assembly constituency was created during the 2008 delimitation exercise, veteran BJP leader Yogesh Patel will not be on the ballot.
Patel, who represented the constituency for three consecutive terms and served a total of eight terms in the Gujarat Assembly during his political career, passed away on June 2. His death has led to a by-election scheduled for July 30 and has left the BJP searching for a successor in a constituency that had become closely associated with him.
The bypoll is not just about retaining one of the BJP’s safest seats in Gujarat. It is also about finding a leader who can fill the political space left behind by one of the party’s most influential faces in Vadodara.
BJP had made an exception for Patel in 2022
Although Yogesh Patel had a strong electoral record, his candidature in the 2022 Gujarat Assembly election had created a dilemma for the BJP. At 77 years of age, Patel was renominated for an eighth consecutive term despite the party increasingly avoiding candidates above 75 years.
His name was the last among all 182 BJP candidates announced before the 2022 elections, reflecting internal discussions and competing ambitions within the Vadodara city unit.
When reporters asked then Gujarat BJP president C. R. Paatil why an exception had been made, he declined to explain. Senior BJP leaders later recalled that Patel’s name had not even been part of the Parliamentary Board’s original consideration, making his selection a surprise.
However, the decision worked in the BJP’s favour. Patel won the election by more than one lakh votes, continuing a trend in which his victory margin had increased in every election since 2012.
A leader with influence beyond elections
Senior BJP leaders say Patel enjoyed direct access to the state leadership in Gandhinagar and even had a strong connection with the Prime Minister.
He also organised the annual Shivratri Yatra in Vadodara, where the traditional “maha aarti” was attended every year by the sitting Chief Minister, making it one of the city’s biggest religious and political events.
Eight-time MLA with support across communities
Patel first represented the Raopura Assembly seat, winning it five times before the constituency was reorganised during the 2008 delimitation exercise. After Manjalpur was carved out of Raopura, he won the new constituency three times, completing eight Assembly victories.
Though he belonged to the Leuva Patidar community, his popularity extended across caste lines. Manjalpur has no single dominant community. Other Backward Classes (OBCs) form the largest voter group, followed by Patidars, while Brahmins, Vaniyas and Marathi-speaking communities also have a significant presence. Party leaders believe Patel’s personal popularity reduced caste-based politics in the constituency.
Succession battle begins inside BJP
With Patel no longer in the picture, internal competition within the BJP has intensified. A senior BJP leader said that balancing different factions will now become difficult. While some leaders want another Patidar candidate, others are pushing for an OBC or upper-caste nominee.
The leader also said that several aspirants have already started promoting themselves on social media as the most suitable candidate, even though the BJP has not yet announced its nominee.
Several leaders in race for BJP ticket
As the July 30 bypoll approaches, lobbying within the local BJP unit has gathered pace. For many years, party leaders did not openly seek the Manjalpur ticket because challenging “Yogesh Kaka” was considered impossible.
Although the BJP has not officially announced its candidate, Vadodara city BJP president Jayprakash Soni and senior leader Smruti Bhave, both with RSS backgrounds, are being seen as frontrunners.
Former Vadodara city BJP president Vijay Shah, who was also considered for the seat in 2022, remains another strong contender. Several other aspirants have also started individual campaigns to strengthen their claim.
Political journey across parties
Patel did not begin his political career with the BJP. He started with the Congress in the 1970s before joining Maneka Gandhi’s Sanjay Vichar Manch in the 1980s. Later, he moved to the Janata Dal and won his first Assembly election in 1990. He eventually joined the BJP in 1995, where he spent the rest of his political career.
Deep religious connect and unfinished project
Known as a devoted follower of Lord Shiva, Patel led Vadodara’s famous annual Shivratri Yatra for several years. He also played a major role in pushing for the iconic 111-foot Shiva statue in Sursagar Lake to be coated with gold. The project remains unfinished, and many BJP leaders believe Patel’s commitment to completing it was one of the reasons the party gave him another ticket in 2022.
Close friendship with Maneka Gandhi
Patel also shared a decades-long personal bond with former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi. The two frequently campaigned for each other during elections and were known to share a relationship similar to that of siblings. Following Patel’s death, Maneka Gandhi travelled to Vadodara to attend his prayer meeting, where she paid an emotional final tribute.
A BJP leader who questioned his own government
Despite being a senior BJP leader, Patel did not hesitate to criticise his own government when he believed local issues were being ignored. In 2018, he joined other BJP MLAs in protesting against what they called the neglect of central Gujarat in Cabinet representation.
The protest eventually resulted in Patel being inducted as a Minister of State. He was also known for speaking openly about civic issues and maintaining an image of an accessible leader.
Congress sees an opportunity
The Congress believes Patel’s absence has created an opening that has not existed in Manjalpur for more than two decades. Although the BJP continues to have a strong organisational network in Vadodara, Congress leaders feel the election could become more competitive without Patel leading the BJP campaign.
Constituency enters a new political phase
Manjalpur has also lost two prominent Congress leaders in recent years. The deaths of Congress leaders Chirag Zaveri and Chinnam Gandhi, followed by Yogesh Patel’s passing, mean that the constituency is now without its most influential political figures.
As a result, voters are almost certain to elect a new face when polling takes place on July 30. The last date for filing nominations is July 13.
BJP faces an important test before 2027
The BJP is also dealing with the fallout of its “no repeat candidates” strategy used in parts of the constituency during the April municipal corporation elections.
While the party won comfortably, dropping several influential local leaders created disappointment and factional tensions that still remain unresolved. This makes the choice of the Manjalpur candidate particularly important.
The bypoll is being seen as an early political test before the 2027 Gujarat Assembly elections. More than simply winning the seat, the BJP now has the challenge of choosing a successor who can unite the organisation and carry forward Yogesh Patel’s political legacy.
Also Read: A Weekend, One Fake Email And Rs 7.34 Crore Gone: How Bhavnagar Bank Was Hacked https://www.vibesofindia.com/bhavnagar-district-cooperative-bank-rs-7-34-crore-cyber-heist-six-arrested/
