As the dates for the Gujarat Assembly elections are nearing, the political turmoil between Congress and BJP is accelerating day by day. Amid the rigorous campaigning, Congress conducted an internal survey in the poll-bound state according to which the party is getting 120 seats of the total 182 seats.
In wake of the advancing on the agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his home state, the Congress leaders met the party high command Sonia Gandhi, at her residence in Delhi at 10 Janpath. During this high profile meeting, Congress began the selection of its warriors to destroy the BJP’s fort in Gujarat, though, the final names may be announced on 15 Nov.
Keeping an eye on the moves of the BJP and hoping for the party to announce its list first, Congress under a thoughtful strategy did not announce the names of the candidates today. The meeting between the party High command and the Congress’s Gujarat election committee lasted for about 45 minutes. About 70 candidates have been stamped under the chairmanship of Sonia Gandhi, though the party is waiting for BJP to announce its list first.
Gujarat Congress President Bharat Singh Solanki said that our survey has succeeded in filling the ongoing under-tax in Gujarat, according to him, Congress seems to be winning 120 seats while defeating BJP in its internal survey.
Congress had almost lost its confidence about let be winning but even having a strong chance to stand as an opposition party. However, after the much drama and turns and twists n the victory of Congress candidate, Ahmed Patel, during the Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections, the party once again felt rejuvenated and energized.
After nailing the Rajya Sabha seat for the sixth time, Patel had declared that those who remained loyal to the party do not have to fear about the distribution of tickets and that their loyalty will be kept into account. When the Gujarat Congress President Bharat Singh Solanki, was questioned regarding the statement of Ahmed Patel he said that all the queries will be cleared on 15 Nov.
After the meeting in 10 Janpath, Bharat Singh Solanki said that in Gujarat, we are going to win the elections, our survey and the people of Gujarat are in favor of both the parties. We will release the list of candidates we have decided on 15th. Around 70 candidates will be stamped and the meeting will be held on 16th.
However, in an earlier survey conducted by the India Today – My Axis, it was suggested that BJP will be winning the polls. According to the Aaj Tak survey, BJP was getting 115-125 seats, while Congress was marginalized in 57-65 seats even with the support of Alpesh Thakor and Jignesh Mevani.
The assembly elections in Gujarat will be held in two phases, the first phase of polls will be held on 9 Dec and the second phase on 14 Dec. The results of the polls will be announced on 18 Dec along with the results of the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, for which the voting was done on 9 Nov.
Gujarat has been ruling the state for more than two decades now and it does seem like the party has any plan of leaving its fort any sooner. Meanwhile, on the other side, Congress is adamant on ending its political exile of 22 years this time and get the throne.
Though the BJP has been in power for a long time, the party has been facing a few problems and opposition from some communities in Gujarat. Major of them being OBCs led by Alpesh Thakor, Dalits led by Jignesh Mevani and the most significant community that is becoming the deciding factor is, the Patidars led by Hardik Patel.
The Patidar leader has more than once indicated that he will extend his support to the Congress, though he has not made any official announcement yet. He always just sad that he will make sure to work in the direction to defeat BJP and will support the party who agrees to the demand of the Patidars.
The community is demanding a reservation for the Patidars in education and jobs under the OBC category. There was also news that the Congress has held a number of meetings with the Patidar leader and it seems like they have agreed to settle down to a conclusion.
If Hardik Patel agrees, to back the Congress, the ruling BJP might face a tough time fighting the polls as the Patidars comprise almost 20% of the total population and this community has been one of the oldest vote bank of the BJP.
According to the experts, it not constitutionally possible to give the reservation to the Patidars. However, it seems like the Congress has juggled out some formula, which may even fulfill the demands of Hardik and it may not even hurt any other community or the constitution.
After a meeting held between senior Congress leaders and the leaders of PAAS (Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti), on Wednesday night, the Congress has given three option to them. However, it is being said that the Patidar leader, Hardik Patel was not present at the meeting.
It is being speculated that these options will be discussed amongst Hardik Patel and the PAAS members and another meeting between the Patidars and the Congress are likely to meet again after 2-3 days. It is also being said that the Congress has been successful in making the Patidars believe that they can get reservation in education and jobs.
According to sources, Congress has formulated these formulas after talks with the law and constitutional experts. On behalf of the Congress High Command, the former Union Law Minister and well-known lawyer Kapil Sibal have been given the responsibility to discuss the reservation issue. It is said that Sibal did the initial homework in conjunction with the leaders of the Patel and Patidar community of the Congress after the high command’s intentions came out. After this, three alternatives have been prepared for reservation. After receiving the green signal from the Congress president, Sibal on Wednesday proposed this proposal of Congress to PAAS.
OBC leader Alpesh Thakor has already extended his support to Congres, and if the party manages to get the backing of the Patidars, it will be great boost up for the party.
Gujarat’s business citadel Surat is well known for its diamond and textile businesses all over the country, along with South Gujarat. Most of the business leaders here are from Patidar community who were agitating for the demand for reservation. In such a case, both the Congress and the BJP are trying to host their flags in the region.
To ensure victory in Surat, BJP President Amit Shah and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi have taken charge in their own hands and have done many rallies here. This is the reason why the center of business, Surat, has become the political arena recently. The note and GST have affected the traders the most and most of them are from Patidar community, who also enjoy influence on Saurashtra too. In such a situation, the Congress thinks that Patidars are angry with the BJP on the issue of reservation and Congress taking the advantage of this can redeem the note ban and the initial shocks of GST.
Meanwhile, on the other hand, trying hard not to give any chance to the Congress, BJP has cut down rates on the GST (especially on the clothes) giving an indication to the Gujaratis, that the BJP is still thinking for the development of Gujarat and are in favour of the people. The entire South Gujarat comprising seven districts holds, 35 assembly seats, and the support from this belt will definitely be affecting the results.
The Gujarat elections if on one side has become a matter of pride for the Congress, in the fight for survival. On the other hand, it is also the prestige point for the BJP as these elections will be a major factor paving the path for the BJP’s dream of coloring India saffron and the Lok Sabha elections due in 2019.