Narmada may help BJP beat the Patel factor
The BJP looks set to suffer a drop in its support-base among the numerically-significant Lehva Patels.
By Devesh Kumar, TNN |
AHMEDABAD: On the eve of the inaugural phase of polls in Gujarat, there is good and bad news for the BJP. The party looks set to suffer a drop in its support-base among the numerically-significant Lehva Patels.
Swayed by the anti-Modi campaign launched by a section, a big chunk of the community appears to have decided to shift loyalties.
But the good news for the party is that the loss likely to be suffered by the BJP among Lehvas is being offset by the dent the party has inflicted among other castes. And, if a section of the Lehvas is working openly for the ouster of chief minister Narendra Modi, there is a vociferous section working overtime to secure his return.
Also, the performance of the state government is receiving thumbs-up from people cutting across caste lines. Only the Muslims and, to an extent, Dalits do not appear to be enamoured by the developmental plank being played by the BJP.
“We’re satisfied with the working of the state government. The water here is saline, and unfit for drinking and irrigation purposes. But the administration has made efforts to provide us with drinking water by constructing a canal. The power-supply has also improved considerably,’’ observed Praveen Bhai Ramjee, a Bota Brahmin who runs a travel agency in Ranavav, located some 15 km from Porbandar.
He has shifted here to earn his bread, but hails from village Tookra, located some 22 km from Porbandar on the coastal highway. Gosa, also located on the same highway, is a large village dominated by Mahers, an OBC community, which has a significant presence in Porbandar district. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for villagers.
“The BJP government’s report-card is better than that of the previous Congress governments. We now have a pucca panchayat bhawan. A network of roads has been built in the villages, and the coastal highway is being widened to 24 ft. In our village, 75% votes will go to the BJP,’’ argued Keshubhai Malde Agat, a Maher.
``Earlier, we had to travel long distances to fetch drinking water,’’ pointed out a government employee hailing from Chorwad village falling in the Malia taluka of Junagarh district. The village, located at the junction of NH-8D and the Junagarh-Veraval road, is dominated by the Kolis and the Rabaris, two prominent OBCs. ``Now a pipeline has been laid through which we get Narmada water.’’
The village, falling in the Somnath assembly segment, had traditionally been loyal to the Congress. ``Its now split 50:50,’’ the government employee, who’s himself a Rabari, asserted.
It’s clear that the BJP, in the past few years, has succeeded in making inroads among castes which had till now remained outside its fold. ``The Lehva factor is working, but primarily in the Amreli district. In other places, it could come into play only in Lehva Vs Lehva situations. In other places, it’s the BJP which is going to walk away with large chunks of the vote,’’ contended Jayesh Bhai Patel, a diamond merchant hailing from Keshod in Junagarh district.
Despite having been in saddle for over six years, chief minister Narendra Modi, it is evident, is enjoying reasonably high ratings among all sections of the people, barring minorities and, to an extent, Dalits. ``Our miseries have only increased in the last few years,’’ lamented Khimjibhai, a Dalit hailing from Khrishara on the Rajkot-Jamnagar highway.
``We get power for only four hours. Agriculture has suffered. To add to our woes, the government has decided to drop almost all our names from the BPL list,’’ added Savji Bhai, another villager.
But Maganbhai Prajapati, a labourer hailing from the nearby Metoda village, thought otherwise. He appeared pleased with the government’s performance, and his only lament was that the chief minister had not bothered to pay a visit to the village. “The BJP has an edge here, he told ET.
Swayed by the anti-Modi campaign launched by a section, a big chunk of the community appears to have decided to shift loyalties.
But the good news for the party is that the loss likely to be suffered by the BJP among Lehvas is being offset by the dent the party has inflicted among other castes. And, if a section of the Lehvas is working openly for the ouster of chief minister Narendra Modi, there is a vociferous section working overtime to secure his return.
Also, the performance of the state government is receiving thumbs-up from people cutting across caste lines. Only the Muslims and, to an extent, Dalits do not appear to be enamoured by the developmental plank being played by the BJP.
“We’re satisfied with the working of the state government. The water here is saline, and unfit for drinking and irrigation purposes. But the administration has made efforts to provide us with drinking water by constructing a canal. The power-supply has also improved considerably,’’ observed Praveen Bhai Ramjee, a Bota Brahmin who runs a travel agency in Ranavav, located some 15 km from Porbandar.
He has shifted here to earn his bread, but hails from village Tookra, located some 22 km from Porbandar on the coastal highway. Gosa, also located on the same highway, is a large village dominated by Mahers, an OBC community, which has a significant presence in Porbandar district. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for villagers.
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“The BJP government’s report-card is better than that of the previous Congress governments. We now have a pucca panchayat bhawan. A network of roads has been built in the villages, and the coastal highway is being widened to 24 ft. In our village, 75% votes will go to the BJP,’’ argued Keshubhai Malde Agat, a Maher.
``Earlier, we had to travel long distances to fetch drinking water,’’ pointed out a government employee hailing from Chorwad village falling in the Malia taluka of Junagarh district. The village, located at the junction of NH-8D and the Junagarh-Veraval road, is dominated by the Kolis and the Rabaris, two prominent OBCs. ``Now a pipeline has been laid through which we get Narmada water.’’
The village, falling in the Somnath assembly segment, had traditionally been loyal to the Congress. ``Its now split 50:50,’’ the government employee, who’s himself a Rabari, asserted.
It’s clear that the BJP, in the past few years, has succeeded in making inroads among castes which had till now remained outside its fold. ``The Lehva factor is working, but primarily in the Amreli district. In other places, it could come into play only in Lehva Vs Lehva situations. In other places, it’s the BJP which is going to walk away with large chunks of the vote,’’ contended Jayesh Bhai Patel, a diamond merchant hailing from Keshod in Junagarh district.
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Despite having been in saddle for over six years, chief minister Narendra Modi, it is evident, is enjoying reasonably high ratings among all sections of the people, barring minorities and, to an extent, Dalits. ``Our miseries have only increased in the last few years,’’ lamented Khimjibhai, a Dalit hailing from Khrishara on the Rajkot-Jamnagar highway.
``We get power for only four hours. Agriculture has suffered. To add to our woes, the government has decided to drop almost all our names from the BPL list,’’ added Savji Bhai, another villager.
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But Maganbhai Prajapati, a labourer hailing from the nearby Metoda village, thought otherwise. He appeared pleased with the government’s performance, and his only lament was that the chief minister had not bothered to pay a visit to the village. “The BJP has an edge here, he told ET.
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