Ahmedabad:

Ahmed Patel manages split in Gujarat NCP

Generally calm and cool Ahmed Patel is these days more angry on Nationalist Congress Party(NCP) than main rival BJP. Ahmed Patel is of opinion that BJP and rebel Congress MLAs barring one were going to vote against him and that was very clear well-in-advance, but sudden and surprising betrayal by NCP, that too at leadership level was a very dirty trick that can’t be forgotten. Ahmed Patel feels that Praful Patel forgot all past obligations and relations and asked two NCP MLAs in Gujarat Kandhal and Jayant to vote against him in Rajya Sabha polls.

We in DeshGujarat had already passed hint about possibility of NCP votes going in favor of BJP well in advanced before the polling day. We also wrote that Ahmed Patel should understand Praful Patel’s situation. Air India scandals under Praful as minister were so big that Praful just can’t afford to displease the government in power to invite CBI inquiry.

Ahmed Patel, severely hurt by NCP has recently managed to execute a split in NCP Gujarat. Today several NCP office bearers in Gujarat joined the Congress party at State party headquarters in presence of Ashok Gehlot and Bharatsinh Solanki. The State Congress claimed that 500 NCP cadres joined State Congress today.

If we look at the NCP polling in Rajya Sabha election objectively, Kandhal Jadeja had already told us journalists well in advance that he was going to vote as per Shankersinh Bapu’s wish as he was so much obliged by him. Even other NCP MLA Jayant Patel (Boskey) enjoys good terms with Shankersinh. Both MLAs had attended Shankersinh’s birthday bash which was boycotted by Congress party officially. Irrespective of party’s mandate both were certain to vote for BJP candidate Balwantsinh Rajput. Yes, there was a hope that at least Jayant Patel would vote as per only and only Praful Patel’s wish. Ahmed Patel was hoping for that vote.

Shankersinh Bapu’s Jan Vikalp

– So what is the next line of action in Shankersinh Vaghela’s camp? MLAs of his camp have joined BJP barring he himself and his son Mahendrasinh Vaghela.

Shankersinh is actually forming a third political alternative ‘Jan Vikalp’. Website, twitter handle and facebook page of Jan Vikalp are already functional.

There were small-size banners on damaged roads in Ahmedabad asking whether there’s any alternative to BJP and Congress to fix this problem! Then newer banners appeared hat the alternative was Jan Vikalp.

Shankersinh has already announced that he would neither form a new party nor he would join any existing political party.

Shankersinh’s Jan Vikalp outfit is likely to field independent candidates as third alternative in selected seats strategically. It is obvious that none of such candidates would win(unless there’s arrangement with mainstream political party for particular seat/candidate), but such candidates would definitely divide anti-incumbency votes.

Rahul at River Front

– Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Samvad’ programme hoardings are visible at various places in Ahmedabad. These are not that small-time poor hoarding that come up here and there right on the foot paths in the city. The party has put Rahul Gandhi on regular large size above the head hoarding spaces.

Rahul’s Samvad programme of interaction with selected party men as well as professionals from different walks of life has been organized at Sabarmati River Front. Congress had as opposition party opposed Sabarmati River Front project time and again for various reasons. Narendra Modi was Gujarat Chief Minister in those years. It is good that now Sabarmati River Front project is proving useful for Congress party to hold its top leader’s function.

Congress leaders will pray for smooth completion of the event without any goof up by Rahul, while opponents will hope for fresh bunch of goof ups that they can share on social media and make fun of it.

I have experience of working in Gujarat election previously, says Sitaraman

When asked by a TV channel, how she would handle the Gujarat election co-incharge responsibility, new Defense minister of cabinet rank Nirmala Sitaraman today said she would need to balance between Gujarat and cabinet ministry tasks. She said she would at least try to be in Gujarat in the week-ends. She said she had experience to deal with Gujarat elections even in 2012. She recalled how she was handling media in Gujarat in previous election, the job assigned to her by party. Sitaraman was in fact scheduled to visit Gujarat today with incharge of Gujarat election Arun Jaitley. However, the visit had to be canceled due to swearing in function in Delhi in which Nirmala was promoted and took oath as cabinet minister. Sitaraman has been assigned the job of Saurashtra region for BJP in upcoming Gujarat assembly general election, dates of which are likely to be announced in second week of October. Gujarat polls are likely to be held in December.

DeshGujarat