Gujarat polls: Hindutva out, core issues in for parties' campaigns

AHMEDABAD: Shunning the sentimental Hindutva card, the campaign of the major parties in Gujarat for the forthcoming Assembly elections this time is centred around principal issues like water, housing and inflation.

The 2002 and 2007 Gujarat elections were held in a charged environment by whipping up communal sentiments in the backdrop of the 2002 riots and numerous encounter cases, including the Sohrabuddin Sheikh case which resulted in easy polorisation of votes, Congress office bearers said.

"But with the passage of 10 years post riots and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's 'Sadbhavna' mission softening his stance towards Muslims have contributed to the fact that Hindutva is not a major issue this time in state elections," they added.

The Congress and Keshubhai Patel's newly formed Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) are of the view that they have a level playing field this time against Modi-led BJP, as the issue of Hindutva is on the backburner.

"Modi has tried to change his colours from what he had projected himself in 2002. He is now trying to woo Muslims. People have come to know his reality and the emotive issues will not sway them this time," Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said.

After 10 years of good rains, Gujarat is facing acute water scarcity this year owing to a deficient monsoon in Saurashtra, Kutch and North Gujarat, which has been compounded by the slow paced work of laying canal network for Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam project. It has posed a major issue prior to the elections of providing water to the drought-affected people.

The Congress's ambitious promise of providing homes to poor and middle class housewives at nominal rates, if it comes to power, has garnered a huge response (already 50 lakh forms have been distributed) and has brought to fore the issue of people's aspirations of owning a house when real estate prices have skyrocketed in the state.