Infrastructure to help BJP in Patan
In Patan, which is Gujarat education minister Anandiben Patel’s assembly segment, Congress is working overtime post a victory over the BJP.
By Urmi A Goswami, TNN |
PATAN: In the land of the exquisitely beautiful Patola saree, a rough and dirty campaign unfolds. In Patan, home of the Patola, which is Gujarat education minister Anandiben Patel’s assembly segment, the Congress is working overtime post a victory over the BJP.
The Patan seat takes on added significance because Anandiben Patel is perhaps the second-most important member of Narendra Modi’s cabinet, and is seen to be someone the chief minister trusts. The district Congress believes that even if they lose the state to the BJP, defeating Anandiben would dent the BJP’s prestige.
Though the Congress raises the issue of the absence of any real development works in the region, its central campaign issue is that Anandiben is an outsider.
Up against Anandiben is Kantilal Patel, who was elected to the assembly in 1985 and has been the runner up ever since. While the Patan Zilla Congress is confident that their man is sure to sweep the polls, its is unwilling to leave anything to chance.
The party has conscripted Anandiben’s husband Mafat Bhai and two former BJP workers, Arvind Patel and Mohan Patel, to campaign against her.
The Congress talks of text book scams, corruption, unfulfilled promises. There is even a hint of the shadow of Keshubhai Patel’s dissatisfaction with Mr Modi. Patan has an electorate of 1,70,000, of which some 70% are Patels. The Leuva Patels are in a majority.
The Patan seat takes on added significance because Anandiben Patel is perhaps the second-most important member of Narendra Modi’s cabinet, and is seen to be someone the chief minister trusts. The district Congress believes that even if they lose the state to the BJP, defeating Anandiben would dent the BJP’s prestige.
Though the Congress raises the issue of the absence of any real development works in the region, its central campaign issue is that Anandiben is an outsider.
Up against Anandiben is Kantilal Patel, who was elected to the assembly in 1985 and has been the runner up ever since. While the Patan Zilla Congress is confident that their man is sure to sweep the polls, its is unwilling to leave anything to chance.
The party has conscripted Anandiben’s husband Mafat Bhai and two former BJP workers, Arvind Patel and Mohan Patel, to campaign against her.
The Congress talks of text book scams, corruption, unfulfilled promises. There is even a hint of the shadow of Keshubhai Patel’s dissatisfaction with Mr Modi. Patan has an electorate of 1,70,000, of which some 70% are Patels. The Leuva Patels are in a majority.
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