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Will Oza, who later left the BJP to join the Congress, be a "giant killer" this time too? "I can only say that Sabarmati was a much tougher constituency for me than the present one, as it was nursed properly by Mr Amin, who was once my leader," he said on Thursday.
A lawyer by profession, Oza was described as a maverick in the BJP.
He said after becoming chief minister, Modi had asked him to rejoin the BJP. He, however, declined the invitation describing the BJP and Sangh Parivar as "pseudo-Hindus".
"Maninagar voters will believe me after I start my campaign with the distribution of pamphlets that will expose the BJP," Oza said.
He said he was attracted to the BJP because of its concept of "Hindutva" but later realised its "hollowness".
Oza nurses a grudge against former BJP home minister Haren Pandya for not taking action against two police officials who ordered their men to beat him up in 1998.
"People have to pay for their deeds," said Oza referring to the denial of ticket to Pandya to fight the December 12 election from Ellisbridge.
He also described former Modi's predecessor Keshubhai Patel as one of the "weakest" chief ministers.
The Election in Gujarat: The Complete Coverage
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