With fresh faces, BJP goes for generational shift
A nearly inconspicuous poster of former chief minister Vijay Rupani at the entrance of Rajkot, a bustling industrial town in Gujarat’s Saurashtra, signifies the generational shift that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has effected in the poll-bound state where older, experienced faces have made way for the new.
The poster, dwarfed by huge hoardings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah along with the state leader and the contestants, is intended to be a reminder of Rupani’s connection with Rajkot. But that’s all there is to his presence in the district — he has chosen to step away from electoral politics; he will no longer be representing his constituency of Rajkot West.
Though the party says he is part of all election-related meetings, Rupani is largely absent.
The BJP is attempting to reinvent itself in Rajkot, which was the centre of the tumultuous Patidar agitation in 2017. Though the party did not suffer electoral losses here, it does not want anti-incumbency to dent its prospects. Four of the six legislators from the region have been dropped and the party is banking heavily on the performance of the government at the Centre to woo voters, who, in addition to the Congress, have a new option in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) this time.
“Just as there is a new candidate, there is a new ‘oorja’ (energy) in the BJP. While the party won six of the eight seats in Rajkot last time, this time, we will win all eight with bigger margins,” said a party functionary based in the district.
In the days ahead of the polling on December 1, a bevy of the BJP’s central leaders are expected to make an appearance in the region. The party’s national president, JP Nadda, addressed a gathering in Rajkot on Friday.
According to a local unit leader who spoke on condition of anonymity, while there are references to local issues and achievements of the state government, the thrust remains on how well the Modi government administers in Delhi.
“We spoke about food grains that were given free of cost and the vaccines to even rich countries during the Covid-19 pandemic,” the leader added.
Recent references by party leaders to a “generational shift” after dropping senior leaders including
Nitin Patel, Rupani and Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, have taken shape in the region.
The replacements are an outcome of the feedback that the BJP and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), gathered about the incumbents.
However, the absence of veterans and incumbents draws a mixed response.
Rupani as CM may have announced a new AIIMS, but the city still lags behind Ahmedabad and Vadodara, said a resident, asking not to be named.
The resident, who runs an eatery, has been a BJP supporter and said if the party does not “bring about a quick change”, there is a possibility of the youth being attracted to other outfits.
“The Congress is not an option, nor is the AAP just yet, but who knows what happens in five years,” he said.
The party also made concerted efforts to woo the Patidar and the Koli communities that can sway the electoral outcome.
“Leuva Patels are the main group of electors in Rajkot. In Jasdan, the Congress won the seat last time with support from the Kolis; this time, we have campaigned to reach out to the communities,” said the Rajkot-based leader quoted above.
Another recurring complaint In Rajkot is inflation.
“The BJP has not been able to do anything about prices that hurt the common man... In our community, there is a growing sentiment that we will either give the AAP a chance or skip voting,” said Rahul (he goes by one name), who comes from the Darzi community — included in the Scheduled Castes (SC) list.
The AAP, which is trying to emerge as an alternative to both major parties, is banking on the “clean” image of its candidates.
The party’s promises of free units of electricity, corruption-free administration and jobs come up in conversations, but there is little evidence they will bring in a victory for the party.
“We have heard about the mismanagement in Punjab. Delhi is still better, because there is Modi ji there. But the lawlessness in Punjab is worrying...” said shopkeeper Manikbhai.
Making use of the word “revri”, which has entered the electoral lexicon to denote freebies, Manikbhai said youth are not easily swayed by them. AAP’s candidate from Rajkot West, Dinesh Joshi, who switched from the Congress, said the election is a contest between the BJP and the AAP.
“Congress MLA from Rajkot East, Indranil Rajyaguru, switched to the AAP. He wanted to spend money and be named the CM candidate, the AAP does not believe in such politics, so he went back... We will give schools with the best education and excellent health care so candidates don’t need to spend money on electioneering,” said Joshi. Congress candidate from Rajkot West, Mansukhbhai, dismisses the AAP’s assertion. “People are fed up with the BJP. Why else did they drop a former CM as MLA? There is anger among the youth, there have been frequent paper leaks and there is no policy to generate jobs or tame inflation. And the AAP has no plans either, as Team B of the BJP, they are contesting only to cut into our votes,” he said.
Election ’22