Internal squabbling, projecting Ahmed Patel can boomerang on Cong: BJP

New Delhi, Oct 24: Battling a perception that key segments of electorate in Gujarat – the Patidars and the OBCs – could shift allegiance to the Congress, the BJP poll strategists now say the inherent contradictions and squabbling in the opposition camp itself will help decimate the rivals. “By his outreach to players like Hardik Patel and Alpesh Thakor, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is only sidelining the genuine Congress workers. This inherent contradiction will help us electorally,” a key BJP leader told UNI here. Earlier too, he said, the BJP benefitted from internal contradictions in Congress between Shankersinh Vaghela camp and the rest. The BJP poll managers say that it is mostly only a “hyped and motivated perception” being sold out by the Congress that the Patidars and OBCs would back the opposition camp. In fact, none other than state Chief Minister Vijay Rupani himself said the Patidars’ desertion theory is only a “media perception”. He also called it a political conspiracy. However, the saffron party’s poll strategists say it is not for the first time Patidars are being wooed by the Congress. “They tried this in 2007 and also 2012 when disgruntled BJP leader Keshubhai Patel had floated the Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP),” he said, adding - but in both the instances the results were “shocking for the opposition camp”. A senior poll strategist for BJP in Gujarat also maintained that there were still a few cards up in sleeves of the saffron camp. “It ought to be remembered that even during the height of caste and Mandal politics in 1990s, Gujarat had presented a different story. Chimanbhai Patel could not carry it along despite support from V P Singh,” the source said. During elections every time in the western state, it is either development or the religious polarisation that come into play. “When was the last time, Congress leaders and Rahul Gandhi have spoken about secularism in recent weeks. They are also visiting temples,” the leader said making an obvious reference to the prevalent strong Hindutva mood in the state and suggested that Congress is only playing a soft Hindutva. It is in this context, one BJP insider said, “Don’t you think the game will change if Congress says Ahmed Patel is their Chief Ministerial candidate”. The BJP sources pointed out that it is on this backdrop that the senior state party leaders including Chief Minister Mr Rupani have been time and again throwing challenge to the Congress to name their Chief Ministerial candidate. “I am daring the Congress, announce your CM candidate and fight on development issues,” Mr Rupani told a TV channel. UNI