Ahmedabad, 2 June 2013

Polling? It was quite a dull show!

First, it was a by-poll, and therefore no state-wide or nation-wide attention attached to it. Then it was not a decisive poll that could form or remove a government. Then this terrific heat in peak time of drought mixed summer!

Election on none of the six seats was natural affair. These elections were imposed on voters. One representative resigned from assembly seat to retain his Lok Sabha seat(Somabhai Patel Limbdi assembly seat), two representatives died(Morva Hadaf MLA Mrs. Khant and Banaskantha MP Mr. Gadhvi), one representative first resigned from Lok Sabha seat to become MLA, then resigned as MLA to change the party(Vitthal Radadia, Porbandar Lok Sabha seat and Dhoraji assembly seat) and then choose to contest Lok Sabha poll on same seat, another representative – his son(Jayesh Radadia Jetpur seat) resigned to change the party.

The election commission added two hours to normal polling schedule considering the situation of extreme heat, but looking at the instantly available trends, it seems there’s not much impact of this decision over voting percentages.

If everything goes as per schedule, the Lok Sabha polls next year would arrive in summer next year(ditto like year 2009). Imagine the voting scenario then!

The by-polls were at least good for the reason that thanks to the elections, the state government was extra vigilant on addressing the issue of shortage of water. It should be mentioned that poll bound areas of rural Saurashtra, north Gujarat and tribal central Gujarat are drought affected.

All six seats that witnessed polling today were occupied by Congress candidates in previous polls. For BJP it’s ‘Vakro etlo nafo’ a situation narrated in Gujarati proverb that means income is equal to profit. For Congress, loss of any seat would be the situation like ‘Dukal ma adhik mas’, means one more month added to ongoing situation of drought!

Chief Minister Narendra Modi has not addressed a single public rally in election bound areas. This has been Modi’s style in recent years. He never holds a public meeting during by-polls. Modi however addressed three out of four zone wise farmers gathering just outside the poll bound areas in the course of Krushi Mahotsav. Modi was permitted by election commission to address a large gathering of farmers at Bhadar dam, after polls were announced. The gathering was organized by Saurashtra Jaldhara Trust with a motive to create awareness on water conservation issue.

There’s no doubt that braving terrific heat, those partymen who worked hard to ensure party’s victory in by-polls shall be rewarded by Modi. Cabinet expansion is already pending, and there’s space to accomodate parliamentary secretaries. Anytime before Lok Sabha polls, some inductions could take place. And opportunities are just not limited to MLAs.

The by-polls provide chance to Gujarat BJP to scale up its presence in Gujarat assembly from existing 115 members to 119, which is two more than year 2007 assembly polls.

For Congress, hopes are alive for victory on Limbdi, Dhoraji and Morva Hadaf seats so far as assembly by-polls are concerned, but there’s no cakewalk situation for Congress on either of three seats.

Was Banaskantha loyal to Congress party, or just loyal to Congress candidate late Mr. Mukesh Gadhvi as a person? The results on 5 June will reply this interesting question.

Quick highlights

-Sister of Congress candidate of Limbdi assembly seat complained that sarpanch of particular village slapped her when she went to prevent bogus voting in a village.

-Congress leaders complained that BJP workers stopped cameraman to shoot the polling procedure inside the polling station in Limbdi and Jetpur.

-It was 62nd birthday of Dhoraji assembly seat BJP candidate Pravinbhai.

-Banaskantha collector watched live polling of 35 sensitive polling station online through CCTV Camera network and live video streaming website ustream. Collector told media that polling booths are protected by Central government forces. Observers and micro observers are supervising the polling procedure.

-Congress party’s aggressive and rich MLA Indranil Rajguru clashed with BJP workers at Dhoraji after verbal fight over alleged bogus polling.

-As always, Congress party has started complaining soon after polling hours. Congress in its statement alleged that Congress agents were kicked out from over 10 villages in Limbdi and polling booths were captured. Government cars were misused. Congress complains were not taken seriously by local administration under BJP government. Congress in its statement said that two villages in Porbandar constituency witnessed negative voting, and Gondal taluka’s Ribda village witnessed zero voting.

-Porbandar Lok Sabha candidate of BJP Shri Vitthal Radadia arrived at polling station on bike.

-BJP spokesperson IK Jadeja told media that Congress has started making bogus allegations due to fear of defeat in by-polls.

-Approximate voting(not final official figures)
Jetpur: Around 45%
Dhoraji: Around 33%
Porbandar: Around 30%
Limbdi: Around 64%
Morva Hadaf: Around 64%
Banaskantha: Around Around 38%