A test of Hardik’s fame and Shah’s micro-planning
THE PATIDAR VOTE WILL BE DECISIVE IN NEARLY 20 OF THE 89 ASSEMBLY SEATSW
AHMEDABAD: As Gujarat gears up for polling on Saturday, the high-decibel campaigns by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi stood out as huge crowd-pullers in the first phase.
But it is the battle between young Patidar leader Hardik Patel’s popularity and BJP president Amit Shah’s micro-level management that holds the key.
Gandhi’s aggressive and extensive canvassing has rejuvenated the Congress, which also got a shot in the arm with Hardik’s Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti declaring support for the party. The 24-year-old quota crusader has turned out to be the star campaigner in this election. He not only pulled huge crowds on the ground, but was also a big draw on social media.
“The Congress could not do much on its own as it lacks a strong network in Gujarat. But it remains to be seen if the large crowds at Hardik’s rallies will translate into votes. Patidars are not happy with the BJP, but the party’s organisation is very strong and Shah has tried to strengthen it,” said political analyst Hari Desai. On the last day of campaigning when Hardik was addressing a huge gathering in Bhavnagar, the BJP released photos of a meeting between its state unit president Jitu Vaghani and Shree Khodaldham Trustee Naresh Patel. A seat of the Patidars’ deity, the Shree Khodaldham Trust wields considerable influence among the Patels. The BJP also spread the word that the trustee appealed to the community to vote for the ruling party, but this was soon denied by trust.
The rebellion by the Patidars is the talk of this election as they formed the bulwark of the BJP’S support base in Gujarat for over two decades. The Patidar vote will be decisive in nearly 20 of the 89 assembly seats. But experts feel the community may end up as a divided house given that Hardik has put the OBC status demand on backburner.
His speeches now mostly talk about uprooting “BJP that killed and beat up agitating youths”. With Patidars posing a challenge for the ruling BJP, already battling anti-incumbency after its 22-year rule, Shah remained focused on mobilising grassroots workers.