The last 22 seats have been a real headache for Gujarat BJP ,due to the attitude of some senior leaders of BJP , and their lobbying to give tickets to their faithful and puppet candidates. If we look at the 22 seats, most of the seats are clear BJP dominant seats. But because their is no such competition the near and dear ones of senior party leaders are trying to grab these seats.
One such seat, which has become talk of the state is the Chauraaysi Assembly seat, of Surat District. In last assembly polls, the sitting MLA Mrs Zankhana Patel won the seat with a margin of 1,10,819 votes, second highest in the state after , current CM Shri Bhupendra Patel. When we went in depth of Zankhana Patel’s family History , her father was a hardcore Jansangh supporter and was regarded as strong pillar of Late Kashiram Rana. The duo actually propogated the Sangh ideology in and around Surat.
While it is believed that Modi Saheb always acknowledge’s the contribution of Sangh loyalists, Zankhana Patel got the seat in last assembly elections and one strong reason was the sangh connection. It’s not just the family clan, but she herself was actively involved in damage control post AAP ‘s entry in Surat.
But at this point of time , the party leaders are in dilemma to give ticket to her or a non Gujarati candidate. As far as Surat scenario is concerned, AAP has already set up their strength and Gopal Italia is fighting from Katargaam, while Harsh Sanghvi the current Home Minister is also contesting from Majura assembly seat of Surat . It’s quite evident that AAP will apply full strength on all assembly seats of Surat. The Saurastra factor will be beneficial to AAP. In this scenario if a non Gujarati candidate is offered ticket, AAP will get a reason to strongly propogate against BJP and especially against he President C.R.Patil ,as he is not basically a Gujrati by caste. AAP and Gopal Italia have already raised many questions against Patil.
The unity of Saurastra may prove difficult for BJP in all assembly seats of Surat. If Zankhana Patel is repeated, the seat will be an easy victory for BJP. The BJP party workers are highly influenced by her and by the work done by her father ,who expired some years back.
On the other hand, BJP has given Akota seat of Vadodara to Chaitanya Makarand Desai , who is son of Late Shri Makrand Desai. Makrand Desai was a hardcore sangh activist and had propogated the ideology of RSS across Vadodara and Central Gujarat ,same as Rajabhai did in Surat.
The final decision and outcome of this seat it seems clearly would depend on the allocation of ticket . It’s belived that if Zankhana Patel doesn’t get the ticket , she would not go against the party due to her father’s commitment for Sangh and BJP.