As BJP looks at clean sweep in Kutch, Cong flings dirt at ‘vikas’

Barely an hour before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election address in Bhuj town, his first poll rally in the campaign for Gujarat, Haribhai Ahir, a tea vendor opposite the Hamirsar Lake joyfully declares his support for the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

“Our Prime Minister shares my background. Everything else is mostly common among other parties,” Ahir says when asked why he does not back another.

But Ahir has a word of advice for the PM: “If he doesn’t pay attention on the needs of the poor and small people, they will teach him a lesson.”

Soon enough, the Prime Minister addressed the crowd on issues of terrorism, national security and Congress bashing, while remaining silent on several key issues.

“There is a lot of anger in the people of Kutch, especially in Bhuj constituency. In villages, there are no sanitation facilities, mobile and internet connectivity. Where is the development? We didn’t hear anything from the Prime Minister on these issues,” asks Adam Chaki, the Congress candidate from Bhuj constituency.

In four of the last five elections, the Bhuj constituency has voted for the BJP. Sitting MLA Nimaben Acharya, however, has a different story to tell. “Post the 2001 earthquake, there has been remarkable redevelopment in Kutch. The infrastructure development is to the credit of the BJP government. We are confident of winning all the six constituencies in district,” Nimaben told BusinessLine .

However, while political experts see a strong footing for the BJP, they also see a silver lining for the Congress, which can pose a tough challenge to the ruling party. “Rapid industrialisation post the earthquake, desert tourism and Hindutva has helped the BJP establish a strong footing in the district. In spite of this, Kutch has not got its due recognition in terms of a Cabinet representation in the previous government, which caused a feeling of neglect,” said Kirti Khatri, a veteran journalist and political observer. Regardless of Prime Minister Modi’s emphasis on the ‘vikas’ (development) agenda, the voting in at least four of the six Assembly constituencies of the district have remained primarily based on the caste and religion factor. The BJP has one Patidar nominee, three from other upper castes, one candidate each from the Dalit and OBC communities, while the Congress’ list has one each from Dalit, Patidar, Muslim and OBC segments, while two candidates are from other upper castes.

While BJP has fielded no Muslim candidate, the Congress has fielded Chaki to contest Acharya in Bhuj.

Among the other known faces, Congress has heavyweight Shaktisinh Gohil contesting from the Mandvi seat, where the BJP has put up Virendrasinh Jadeja. But what has caught the attention of the politcal watchers is the Rapar seat, where there is going to be a triangular fight between BJP’s Santok Arethia, Congress’ Pankajbhai Mehta and Babu Meghji Shah, who was denied a ticket from Congress, and has since decided to contest on an NCP ticket.

According to Khatri, the BJP can have a tough time cornering Mandvi and Rapar seats. “On the other seats, due to caste balance, the BJP can have some advantage. But after the PM’s speech that failed to touch the real issues of the people in the region, it is to be seen whether or not Kutchis continue to back the saffron side or vote for a change.”