BJP rushes to tribal belt as Cong advances in first phase
BJP stalwarts have stepped up their drive in traditionally Congress-dominated tribal districts of Panchmahal and Dahod.
By Himanshu Darji & Kalpesh Damor, TNN |
KALOL: Reports of the first phase of voting indicating the Congress gaining momentum in Saurashtra region have kept the BJP on its toes. Now, the party stalwarts have stepped up their drive in traditionally Congress-dominated tribal districts of Panchmahal and Dahod.
On the other front, Rahul Gandhi, who pulled huge crowds on his debut visit to Surat, is scheduled to campaign in the tribal areas on December 14.
After the first phase of polling, the focus has now shifted to the tribal areas so much so that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi made a second visit to the tribal area of Santrampur in Panchmahal district a couple of days back. It may be mentioned here that earlier this month, Mr Modi had rushed to Dahod, Godhra and other centres in these districts for campaign.
Pressure of winning seats in the tribal belt is so strong that the BJP workers and leaders are leaving no stone unturned. Interestingly, BJP national secretary Om Mathur flew along with Gujarat home minister Amit Shah in a chopper to the small town of Halol, and held meeting with party leaders and workers. Also, cricketer-turned-politician Navjyotsingh Siddhu and Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhra Raje on Wednesday campaigned in Sehra in Panchmahal and Randhikpur in Dahod respectively.
A couple of hours after the first phase of polling was over in south Gujarat, BJP state general secretary and in-charge for tribal belt Bharatsinh Parmar, too, rushed to Kalol, Halol and Godhra to strengthen campaigning in these areas as the polling in these areas is slated to take place on December 16. The saffron party has stepped up its efforts in the tribal areas, seeing a tough time ahead, but Bharatsinh Parmar claimed that the entire exercise is being carried out to ensure more seats in the tribal belt.
However, senior Congress leader Rajendra Patel from Godhra opined that the Congress would repeat its spectacular performance of 1985 assembly elections in the tribal belt. “Even NCP candidates in Rajgadh and Bariya are seen as strong contestants, and the Congress hopes to clinch these seats as well,” he added.
On the other front, Rahul Gandhi, who pulled huge crowds on his debut visit to Surat, is scheduled to campaign in the tribal areas on December 14.
After the first phase of polling, the focus has now shifted to the tribal areas so much so that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi made a second visit to the tribal area of Santrampur in Panchmahal district a couple of days back. It may be mentioned here that earlier this month, Mr Modi had rushed to Dahod, Godhra and other centres in these districts for campaign.
Pressure of winning seats in the tribal belt is so strong that the BJP workers and leaders are leaving no stone unturned. Interestingly, BJP national secretary Om Mathur flew along with Gujarat home minister Amit Shah in a chopper to the small town of Halol, and held meeting with party leaders and workers. Also, cricketer-turned-politician Navjyotsingh Siddhu and Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhra Raje on Wednesday campaigned in Sehra in Panchmahal and Randhikpur in Dahod respectively.
A couple of hours after the first phase of polling was over in south Gujarat, BJP state general secretary and in-charge for tribal belt Bharatsinh Parmar, too, rushed to Kalol, Halol and Godhra to strengthen campaigning in these areas as the polling in these areas is slated to take place on December 16. The saffron party has stepped up its efforts in the tribal areas, seeing a tough time ahead, but Bharatsinh Parmar claimed that the entire exercise is being carried out to ensure more seats in the tribal belt.
However, senior Congress leader Rajendra Patel from Godhra opined that the Congress would repeat its spectacular performance of 1985 assembly elections in the tribal belt. “Even NCP candidates in Rajgadh and Bariya are seen as strong contestants, and the Congress hopes to clinch these seats as well,” he added.
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