Infighting, Diamond traders' anguish could prove costly for BJP

Amreli (Gujarat), Nov 28: In the Saurashtra region, the mid-level and small diamond traders' hub Amreli has never been a strong nerve centre for BJP. In 2012 assembly elections, the saffron party won two seats narrowly out of five with Congress picking up two and the Dhari assembly seat had gone to Keshubhai Patel-led Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP).

But in the run up to this year's elections, things seemed to have worsened for BJP. It is largely due to combination of many factors -- infighting, ineffective political management and of course the anguish against Goods and Service Tax. 
According to Lalit Thummar, president of Amreli Diamond Merchants' Association, "The diamond traders are unhappy with BJP and this time, they will vote for Congress. I will not be surprised if BJP fails to open account in Amreli district - that houses key assembly segments- Dhari, Amreli, Lathi, Savarkundla and Rajula".
But the BJP insiders say they may brave through the "stiff challenge" as the party has done right caste-arithmetic and fielded four Patidars out of five while for Rajula, the party has fielded OBC face and four-time MLA Hirabhai Solanki.
"The caste equations should favour us. The Patidars' anguish is more in northern part of Gujarat and not in Saurashtra.
The Patel community here understands hard politics and therefore even in 2012 despite Keshubhai factor GPP, the BJP picked up maximum seats," says Ritesh Upadhyay, party's district media cell convenor. 
His views are endorsed by another BJP poll manager in Amreli segment. "We will win Amreli seat easily. The candidate this time Bavkubhai Udhad is a matured leader and the sitting Congress legislator Paresh Dhanani will get a shock," says Mahender Chawda, BJP district office secretary.
But little more questioning of BJP workers in various polling booth offices in the district reveal saffron party's weaknesses.
According to one insider, immense infighting has been sparked off at Dhari seat and the 'damage' is perhaps already done as many workers have almost reconciled to party's defeat here. 
In 2012, the seat was won by GPP of Keshubhai Patel.
Sources said the BJP nominee for Dhari - Dilip Singhani is a businessman and is unable to run the electoral machinery.
Moreover, many consider him an 'outsider' to the constituency and apparently a few local leaders like Hiren Hir Parag and Dr Bharat Kanabar are opposed to Mr Singhani. In fact, the intra-party squabbling was so serious that Harish Makwana, another ticket aspirant, had filed his nomination papers as Independent - but was later persuaded by party leaders to withdraw.
"But the damage is done and Congress nominee J V Kakadia has stolen the initiatives," one BJP worker admitted.
Infighting has been reported from other constituencies in the district in BJP camp while the Congress mood is in upswing - especially in Amreli town and Savarkundla.
"We have a young and energetic MLA from Amreli town. Our sitting MLA Paresh Dhanani has earlier humbled
BJP's top guns like Dilip Singhani and Purushottam Rupala," said Congress campaign in-charge in market area Qadir Solanki, also a Muslim.
Even traditional BJP voters may switch sides. 
Importantly Basant Ramjhibhai, a shopkeeper says,"I have always remained a BJP voter, but this time my hands are tied. We all were Narendra Modi fans. We saw in him a Prime Minister with a strong determination and commitment for development, but the GST is a spoiler and he needs to learn his lesson".
Many voters in Amreli district and also in the Saurashtra region - in general - could be thinking the same way. UNI