New Delhi: Now that the Moditva campaign is over, the onus is firmly on the voters of north and central Gujarat.
Soon after casting his vote Narendra Modi said he was confident of a historic win for the BJP. Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, LK Advani echoing Modi's sentiments says that BJP will get majority both in Gujarat and Himachal.
However, Congress leader Shankar Singh Vaghela is counting on a strong anti-incumbency wave to sweep his party into office. “The BJP has no issue, there is insurgency and corruption and people are fed up with BJP government. I am sure that this time the polling will be in favour of the Congress as the Gujarati people are peace-loving people,” says Shankar Singh Vaghela.
With a total of 599 candidates vying for the 18.7 million votes of the electorate, the elections are all set to enter their last phase.
There are 95 seats up for grabs, 43 being from Central Gujarat and 52 in North Gujarat.
Meanwhile, an ad war is being fought in the heart of Hindutva land with Congress’s playing up Masood to counter the BJP’s Afzal ads.
Clearly, whatever Modi does has to responded to by the congress in the same coin.
Where Modi called Sonia Gandhi and her government the true merchants of death, Sonia was quick to demand, “Why did they (the NDA) go to negotiate Kandhar hijacking?”
In 2002, when the entire state of Gujarat was caught in a communal flare up from Godhra to Vadodara, Narendra Modi had emerged as the undisputed king, winning 37 of the 46 seats – a complete reversal of fortunes from 1998, when the congress used to hold sway in Saurashtra
But now, Narendra Modi has the Patels and the rebels to contend with.
In Central and North Gujarat, he has to tide over the indifference of the RSS and the VHP organisations, which are well-oiled in the region but of late have been refusing to cooperate with Modi.
Clearly, what has been witnessed in 2007 is a variant of Gujarat 2002.
Narendra Modi’s challenge is not only to retain the number of seats he got last time, but also to improve on them. Only a runaway success in these elections will be taken as a real victory for the Gujarat CM. Anything less than that would ensure that the Congress would have its field day.
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In 2002, the BJP had won 73 of the 95 seats with Congress getting a modest 21 and other candidates just one.
Combatants from central Gujarat
In Central Gujarat, Modi faces Congress leader Sidharth Patel, who is also the son of former CM Chimanbhai Patel.
From Mehmedabad is Social Justice Minister Sundarsingh Chauhan.
Baroda Dairy Chairman and Vaghodia MLA Madhu Srivastava is also trying his hand at getting a fourth term. Srivastava was also involved in the Best Bakery Case.
Finally, from Matar, former Deputy CM and GCA President Narhari Amin of the Congress would be giving Modi competition.
North’s stars
Modi is contesting from Maninagar.
His arch-rival is Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Dinsha Patel, who has been propped up by the Congress.
Gujarat’s Home Minister Amit Shah is contesting from Sarkhej and Education Minister Anandiben Patel from Patan.
The constituency of Meghraj has Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela’s son, Mahendrasinh Vaghela contesting the elections.
Former leader of opposition and Congress leader Naresh Raval will give Modi a run for his money from Mehsana while former bureaucrat C J Chavda is contesting from Gandhinagar and Gujarat Assembly Speaker Mangalbhai Patel from Mansa.
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