Gun-toting ex-MP gets BJP ticket for bypoll

The BJP on Tuesday fielded former MP Vithal Radadia, who had last year threatened a toll collector with his gun, and his son Jayesh, a former MLA, for bypolls in Gujarat. The father-son duo had resigned from the Congress and their legislative positions to join the saffron party.

The BJP on Tuesday fielded former MP Vithal Radadia, who had last year threatened a toll collector with his gun, and his son Jayesh, a former MLA, for bypolls in Gujarat. The father-son duo had resigned from the Congress and their legislative positions to join the saffron party.

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During the run-up to the Gujarat assembly polls in November-December 2012, Radadia courted a controversy when he brandished his gun at a toll plaza near Vadodara when he was asked to pay.

When his act was caught on CCTV camera, Radadia had defended his action, saying the toll plaza operator had threatened him. However, the BJP government in the state had immediately seized the opportunity by condemning Radadia, who was then a Congress MP, and lodged an FIR against him.

After the polls, Radadia and his son decided to leave the Congress to join the saffron party, which won the assembly polls with a smooth majority.

The elections to two Lok Sabha and four assembly seats will take place on June 2.