Ahmedabad, 17 March 2014

Some details coming from the Congress camp in Gujarat. All details are based on what party insider briefed us in informal talk. Not final word or authentic version, but it gives some idea of what’s going on.

There’s very much pressure on Dinsha Patel to contest Kheda seat, and Dinsha may succumb to it. It is not that Congress wants Dinsha to contest to win, but Congress wants to balance its Patel-Kshatriya equation. The other option was Ramsinh Parmar, MLA of Thasra.

Congress understands well that Gandhinagar seat is impossible. The party therefore may give ticket to Patel candidate to show number of tickets given to Patels good. Kirit Patel, former MLA of Visnagar is considered as possible candidate here.

On Surendranagar seat, Congress wants BJP to choose non-Koli community candidate. Congress has chosen sitting MP and Koli leader Somabhai Patel as candidate. Congress believes that if BJP choses Mr. Soni or any other non-Koli candidate, Congress will cover all Koli community votes in its favor in block.

In Banaskantha, Congress is planning to field Raghubhai Desai. Party wants Bhavsinh Rathod to contest Patan Lok Sabha seat. Jagdish Thakor, sitting MP of Patan could be shifted to Kapadvanj assembly seat which shall be vacated if Shankersinh Vaghela wins Sabarkantha Lok Sabha seat.

Congress wants NCP to field Kandhal Jadeja on Porbandar Lok Sabha seat to limit Vitthal Radadia to Porbandar only.

Congress’s support to Mohan Delkar on Dadra and Nagar Haveli seat is strategic to impact Valsad Lok Sabha seat as well. Election dates are different in both cases. Delkar’s force and Maharashtra workers will be utilized for Valsad seat in Gujarat.

Congress is utilizing some prominent people in Ahir community to convince Poonamben Jat, BJP MLA to say no to party offer to contest against her uncle and Congress party’s sitting MP Vikram Madam. Ahir community leaders believe that community is represented in assembly by Poonam and in Lok Sabha by Vikram. Why they should fight with each other? BJP’s Dwarka MLA Pabubha Manek’s secret support to Vikram Madam due to business interests is another factor going in favour of Congress.

For Mehsana seat, Congress is considering Surat based rich man Jeevabhai Patel as candidate. He has won this seat in past.

Congress firmly believes that victory on 26 out of 26 seats is not possible for BJP and Congress will continue to get its average share like all past elections in Gujarat.

Congress man told us why BJP is not able to declare its candidates in Gujarat so far while Congress has completed the task on several seats a week ago! Congress describes this as lack of confidence in Gujarat BJP. While Congress candidates are busy fixing the seat level mathematics to ensure victory level of votes, what hurts to them is mega wave again them. They wish some dirty CD may help to scale down the mega wave just ahead of the elections.