Bharatbhai Manubhai Sutariya, BJP's New Face In Amreli Lok Sabha Constituency (Facebook image@ Bharat M Sutaria)

Like Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has opted for a fresh face this year in Gujarat”s Amreli Lok Sabha constituency. By dropping the sitting MP Naranbhai Kachhadia from the list, the party has given ticket to Bharatbhai Manubhai Sutariya as their candidate for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He is contesting against Congress” Jennyben Thummar, who is also a fresh face in the poll arena.

Hailed from Jarakhiya village of Gujarat”s Lathi village, Sutariya belongs to Leuva Patidar community by profession. Sutariya has been working for the BJP since 1991. This is the first time he is stepping on to the election arena, and hopes to keep his party”s strong hold in the seat.

Sutaria served as the taluka general secretary of party from 2009 to 2011. He also served as the taluka panchayat president from 2010 to 2015, and the post of municipality prabhari after 2019. For the last six months, Sutaria has been serving as the district panchayat president of Amreli.

The Amreli Lok Sabha constituency, one of Gujarat’s 26 parliamentary seats, was created in 1957. The constituency covers the entirety of the Amreli and Bhavnagar districts. It is comprised of seven Vidhan Sabha seats, including Mahuva, Rajula, Dhari, Amreli, Lathi, Savarkundla, and Gariadhar.

Amreli’s political story varied with time. After the Independence, Congress, India’s grand old party, dominated the constituency, winning seven elections between 1957 and 1984. However, in 1989, the Janata Dal put an end to this winning streak and emerged victorious. Since 1991, the BJP has been able to secure the seat under their clasp by bagging victories in seven out of eight Lok Sabha elections and has become the new dominant party on this seat.