GUJARAT BJP FRACTURES

August 5, 2012

How does the breaking away of Keshubhai Patel and Kashiram Rana from the BJP in Gujarat augur / portend for the politics of the state? The former home minister Zadaphia has already announced the impending merger of his Mahagujarat party with the new outfit Keshubhai is scheduled to launch today.

Considering that these two were amongst the tallest stalwarts of the party in the state, with fairly strong regional following in Saurashtra and South Gujarat respectively, do you see them posing serious challenge to Modi?

Do you expect other former CMs like Suresh Mehta, following them out of BJP?

Seeing that Modi doesn’t seem to be overtly worried about this ostensibly serious development, what game plans would he be hiding? Or is it his plain arrogance that doesn’t see the writing on the wall?

A section of the rural voter – led by Gandhians like Chunibhai Vaidya and his own MLA Kalsaria – is angry with Modi for usurping rural lands specially in Bhavnagar. On the other, it is generally believed that Modi government has significantly improved the power supply. The powerful coastal area leader, Solanki, is being prosecuted for corruption on Governor’s orders.

LJP and SP have already announced making inroads in Gujarat. BSP and NCP are about to announce their plans. NCP, indeed, had cut into the Congress vote in some eight constituencies previously.

In the light of these and other related developments how do you see the political scenario unfolding in the Assembly elections of Gujarat due later this year?