15

May

Gujarat : A Resurgent Congress May Spring A Surprise

image

Today’s Edition

New Delhi, 15 May 2024

Prof. Shivaji Sarkar

Gujarat, the home turf of BJP, from where the party gradually took a national leap in 1995, is stated to  be in for a major surprise. The bastion may be weakening ,if not tottering.

The Congress is seemingly regaining its lost ground with the selection of young and effective candidates and sharper strategies to counter its rival as well as  winning friends with Aam Aadmi Party. In 2022, AAP candidates getting 5000 votes in many assembly segments led the Congress to lose over 20 seats. Congress is assessed to have done well at many places now and may win at least five parliamentary seats and is considered to be in the contest in three more. It has rocked many of the Saurashtra seats.

 

Article at a Glance

 

The home turf of the BJP, Gujarat, is facing a major surprise in the upcoming elections as the Congress is regaining its lost ground. The Congress has improved its organizational strength and is in a commanding position in at least five parliamentary seats and in a tough contest in three more.

The BJP is losing touch with the people and its leaders, and the central control of the party has disillusioned the voters. The recent public meetings of BJP leaders have seen empty chairs, indicating that their influence is waning.

The Kshatriya rebellion, infighting in the BJP, high price rises, unemployment, and kisan movements have further hurt the BJP's chances. The BJP has also had to replace its candidates in Vadodra and Sabarkantha, demoralizing its partymen. Overall, popular sentiments are changing in Gujarat, and the Congress is making inroads among voters.

 

The Congress is stated to be in commanding position in at least five parliamentary seats Banaskantha, Bharuch, Vadodra, Anand and Patan and in tough contest in another three, including Sabarkantha, Bhavnagar and Jamnagar.

Besides, the Surat theatre of getting BJP candidate declared uncontested was not considered ethical by the electorate. It alerted the Congress swinging to action to prevent about eight more such attempts. It exhibits that Congress has not only matured but also become organisationally strong.

 A former Gujarat state finance minister, Jainarain Vyas, who was brought to BJP by the then organising secretary of BJP, Narendra Modi, who literally built up the party from the scratch, says the party is losing touch with the people and leaders their aura. Vyas remained in the cabinet of Modi too, when he became chief minister and shaped up much of the Gujarat finance and development model.

Congress is gaining ground as its organisational strength has improved with the exodus of large number of its leader to BJP. What was considered a loss to the Congress has actually shaken the BJP causing more disenchantment of its party members. Even local bodies polls were being fought in the name of Modi for strengthening the leader for a national cause. It has turned otherwise now

The stock grievance of the partymen, “Congmen get their jobs done, none even listens to the grievance of insiders”. This started rocking the party as at least five ministers from the Congress rule the roost. There are said to be two BJP ministers who have reportedly authorised their secretaries to decide the affairs of the ministries. It is the result of ministers being told to not take decision independently. But this is being interpreted by partymen as the ministers are of no consequence as they have lost the decision-making authority.

Partymen do not know who to complain. Every bit is controlled by two persons, who remain in Delhi. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was chosen to decorate the chair because he has no following in the party. Most local leaders have lost their touch with people. The CM is more a liability than asset.

The central control of the party led the leaders and even the cadre becoming apathetic to the state affairs. In light-hearted talks, people say that a CM without an aura cannot persuade the voters. Congressisation of the party structure has disillusioned the voters because BJP workers cannot help the people.

Now even top leaders are losing their influence. Vyas says the recent public meetings of Modi or Shah has most chairs empty. None of them are crowd-pullers. He says Modis aura is diminishing as per an “economic theory of the law of diminishing marginal returns. As he controls more, exposes himself, he loses the brand magic”. It is hurting the party. For once in many years, Modi spent the nigh in Nagpur sometime back but union minister Nitin Gadkari even did not call on him. Its buzz was heard during the voting in the state/

At lease five seats are on edge as Congress making inroads among voters. The Kshatriya rebellion has its impact beyond the Saurashtra region. Infighting in the BJP has spilled its beans beyond. Various grouping within the party is affecting its popularity.

The Kshatriya, considered OBC, factor is accentuated by the support of Brahmins, Rabari and Chaudhury tribes. It is accentuated by high price rises, unemployment, kisan movements and thaw in economy. The hurt is deep.

Partymen are not active canvassers at most places. The core organisation is lukewarm. Their leaders and members are not managing its affairs, particularly the poll booths, that used to be strongpoint of the BJP.

Besides, for the first time, the BJP has to replace its candidates in Vadodra and Sabarkantha. This gave an edge to the Congress as partymen feel demoralised.  

Overall, popular sentiments are said to be changing in Gujarat.

---------------

  • Share:

About Us

We must explain to you how all seds this mistakens idea off denouncing pleasures and praising pain was born and I will give you a completed accounts..

Contact Us

Contact Info

  • 70, Gyan Khand- 4, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad. Uttar Pradesh.
  • +91-9810533682
  • info@mediamap.co.in
  • Week Days: 09.00 to 18.00 Sunday: Closed