Gujarat: Congress may increase its tally

The Indian National Congress (INC), which has been continuously sulking election after election for the past 27 years has reasons to smile. This time as the top echelons of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party in power is of the perception that the permanent opposition party is set to wrest more than 10-12 seats than its present strength of 60.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Congress to go upward: In fact, the Congress had won in 77 seats last time, but thanks to Operation Lotus, 17 of them just walked away into the ruling party for green pastures. Going by the popular mood and pre-poll surveys of many a media outlet and acceptance of none other than the BJP itself, Congress is said to be increasing its tally compared to the present strength.

BJP hint increase of INC seats: BJP top leaders themselves confide that the Congress party looks like increasing its party strength in the state Assembly. A senior AICC leader and former AICC in-charge of Gujarat asserts - This time we are expecting a decrease of vote share and seats, but didn't divulge details of both.

BJP vote share to dip: Price rise of essential commodities, ever-increasing unemployment problem, and loss of innocent lives due to inept handling of the Covid-19 pandemic are bound to make an adverse impact on the ruling party. However, despite the vote share shrinking the ruling party will manage to retain power with less number of seats, he feels.

Saurashtra to contribute: He also lamented-"Saurashtra region has traditionally been anti-Congress for reasons not known. In spite of such situation we had 32 MLAs from the area last time and hope to increase the strength there".

AAP, no account but help BJP, INC: Dilip Singh Kshatriya, Assistant Editor, The New Indian Express in Ahmedabad explains-"The AAP may not open its account but will help both, BJP and INC to win in some seats but the party has absolutely no base at all in the rural areas".

Hardik Patel feared losing: Another political analyst opines - Hardik Patel of the Patidar Andolan joining BJP may not help the party as he is being vehemently opposed by several Patidar leaders. Just like Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakur, and Jignesh Mewani's chances of winning look bleak, confided many a political observer.

Trouble in 5-7 seats: Vijay Rupani, the former chief minister being denied the ticket to contest may not upset the ruling party's fortunes anywhere. But denial of ticket to Nitinbhai Patel, former Deputy chief minister may prove dearer to the ruling party in North Gujarat, says Dilip Singh Kshatriya.

Only Modi's name working: Another senior journalist summed up the present scenario - Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an asset to the BJP for bringing glory to Gujarat. In the present, just like in all previous elections it's only Narendra Modi's name that is working. People of the state love him apart from believing that he is moving in the right direction and rewarding the state with several projects.

-Manohar Yadavatti

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