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
Rajkot, Aug 2 : Four persons including a three-year-old boy were killed when a state transport bus in which they were travelling collided with a truck this morning, police today said.