In a unique protest, voters in Rajkot expressed their anger at councillor and Rajkot Rural MLA Bhanuben Babariya by putting up banners on Tuesday that said, “MLA Bhanuben Babariya is Missing.”
According to media reports, Babariya holds two positions — as a ward councillor in Rajkot and as the MLA for Rajkot Rural. She is also the Cabinet Minister for Social Justice in the Gujarat government. Despite this, people in her area say they feel ignored and are now raising their voices in protest.
In Tramba village near Rajkot, known for its historic Kasturbadham and the sacred Triveni Sangam, frustrated locals held banners with slogans targeting Babariya.
Villagers claim that the old and damaged footbridge at the Triveni Sangam has still not been fixed, even after repeated requests. Although there have been promises to develop the area for years, nothing has actually changed.
Recently, several bridge repair initiatives have been launched across the region following the Gambhira bridge tragedy. However, this particular bridge remains neglected. As a result, even visiting the temple has become a risky endeavour, leading to widespread anger. The banners sarcastically announced a “reward for anyone who finds Bhanuben Babariya”.
The citizens have constantly raised issues such as poor roads, garbage accumulation, and inadequate infrastructure. However, locals complain that she rarely attends municipal board meetings.
Moreover, according to protesters, she has only shown up for one out of three mandatory sessions and often doesn’t even submit leave reports. The MLA has also been subject to criticism for failing to open an office or take up people’s concerns at the municipal level.
Although Rajkot has been given representation in the state cabinet, citizens are now questioning what real benefit the city has received from it.
Who is Bhanu Babariya?
BJP MLA Bhanuben Babariya won the Rajkot Rural seat by defeating AAP’s Vashram Sagathiya in the 2022 Assembly elections.
She has been the MLA of Rajkot Rural since 2017 and is currently the Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment in the Bhupendra Patel government.