As Gujarat enters the ultimate 12 months earlier than the subsequent meeting elections, each the BJP and the Congress try to consolidate their vote financial institution. After the BJP introduced in a brand new ministry in Gujarat in addition to a Patidar as chief minister, the Congress has appointed OBC chief Jagdish Thakor as its state chief and tribal MLA Sukhram Rathwa as its chief within the meeting.
The BJP’s grip on Patidars, as soon as its foremost vote financial institution, has been eroding for the reason that 2015 Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) agitation led by Hardik Patel, which demanded reservation for the group (Hardik now Working President of Congress). Congress, alternatively, has seen its assist base of OBCs, Dalits and Adivasis being snatched away by the BJP. During the Nineteen Eighties, the Congress was sustained within the state by its highly effective Kham (Kshatriya, Harijan, Adivasi and Muslim) coalition.
The foremost motive why the Congress put up a reputable efficiency within the 2017 meeting elections – the perfect since 1995 – was the anger of the Patidars in direction of the BJP. By the time of the 2021 native elections, the Patidar vote had shifted to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which gained the election on the expense of the Congress.
Newly appointed Gujarat Congress President Jagdish Thakor was welcomed by celebration employees at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport in Ahmedabad. (Express picture by Nirmal Harindran)
The entry by BJP and Congress to their vote financial institution coincides with AAP’s try to realize a foothold in Gujarat in addition to AIMIM’s push for the Muslim vote within the state. The AIMIM had gained 24 seats within the native physique elections held in February-March this 12 months, together with seven within the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. AAP emerged as the principle opposition celebration in Surat Municipal Corporation with 27 seats.
The AAP within the state is headed by Gopal Italia, who was earlier a member of the PAAS. Recently well-known information anchor and OBC face Isudan Gadhvi joined the celebration.
The newest unidentified distinguished within the combine is ​​Leuva Patidar chief Naresh Patel, who has been demanding the withdrawal of felony circumstances in opposition to Patidars linked to the 2015 protests, and who introduced his intention to interact in lively politics. The announcement was made a number of days after he met senior Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki.
A Congress chief stated the consensus on new appointments for the state chief and the chief of the opposition is nice information for the celebration, which is grappling with infighting. “The party leadership seems to have realized that it cannot win the 2022 assembly elections without strengthening its core vote bank,” the chief stated.
While outgoing state Congress president Amit Chavda can be an OBC, he belongs to the Kshatriya group. A Patidar chief stated, “If we had appointed a court or a Kshatriya, the Patidars would have run away from the Congress.”
The new chief Jagdish Thakor can be believed to be “more acceptable to Dalits”. The Congress just lately made one other large proposal for the Scheduled Castes by together with distinguished Dalit face and unbiased MLA Jignesh Mevani.
A Congress chief stated getting OBC and tribal votes would assist the celebration in rural areas as nicely – which stays the celebration’s power because the BJP is successful large in city centres. Of the 27 seats reserved for STs within the Gujarat Assembly, the Congress has 13 seats, yet another than the BJP’s 12. Two seats are with the Tribal Party of India, which has severed its alliance with the Congress. The chief stated the brand new appointments additionally match with Rahul Gandhi’s “vision” of appointing folks from deprived sections to key positions.
A senior BJP chief stated they had been watching with curiosity the Congress’s bid for his or her outdated Kham base. However, the chief stated, the caste-based politics of the Congress can’t go in opposition to its name for “united” Hindutva.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
