Move over development, polarisation, caste may still help BJP in Gujarat

Ahmedabad/New Delhi, Sep 6: Notwithstanding the hype often created about Gujarat being a ‘model’ of development, the BJP's continuous success electorally in the western state shows 'social polarisation' and the right kind of synthesis between effective caste and class management have helped Narendra Modi's party, say commoners. According to many citizens in Ahmedabad and in Saurashtra region, including government officials - of course on the condition of anonymity - an ethno-religious identity quest of the middle and neo-middle classes continues to help the BJP. "The BJP was able to make inroads into the traditional OBC vote-banks of the Congress and it has sustained that. Therefore, social engineering resulted in communities like Kshatriyas, Adivasis and Kolis backing BJP in 2012 (up by 11 per cent) as the community deserted the Congress having backed Sonia Gandhi's party in 2007," says a local businessman Madhubhai Kapadia at Ahmedabad. He says the people also realise it too well that BJP's effective caste management - then under Mr Narendra Modi had came into play in 2012 elections after Keshubhai Patel, a popular BJP leader and former Chief Minister, had floated Patel- dominated- the Gujarat Parivartan Party. State Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, however, insists the people of Gujarat have always rejected any third front in the state and hence the battle in the state has over the decades remained chiefly between the BJP and the Congress. Therefore, he says, while the Congress has been "weakened" following desertion in its camp by legislators, for BJP in Gujarat, the country's grand old party remains the chief rival. "Even in the past senior leaders like Chimanbhai Patel and Keshubhai Patel tried. Shankersinh Vaghela himself had launched his regional party RJP, but nothing moved. Therefore, despite all its weaknesses, our contest in Gujarat is against Congress," Mr Rupani told a group of visiting journalists from Delhi. However, when it comes to the issue of Patidars' movement, the Chief Minister realises that the 'anguish' of the "well-to-do" community has some factors and this ought to be addressed. Mr Rupani seems to understand the 'importance' and 'complexity' of the Patidar movement in 2015. "Look, my understanding is that basically the people from upper castes complain that they have been deprived of medical or engineering seats while students with less marks have benefitted," he said. In this context, the Chief Minister said the Patidar movement on reservation has "also weakened" as the state government has set up a Rs 1,000 crore fund Mukhyamantri Yuva Swabhlamban scheme and under which issues concerning youth from all communities including the Patidars will be addressed. However, there are a few like Karsan Soneri, a local Congress leader, "The BJP has actually benefited or rather exploited the socio-religious polarisation cultivated by the 'Gujarat model’. Narendra Modi was able to win elections three times in the state mainly because his politics was directed at Muslims, Dalits and Adivasis". Endorsing this view even others say the BJP has benefitted by winning over middle class and the neo-middle class who are neo-urbane and highly aspirational. UNI