GANDHINAGAR, Sept 1: As if all other weapons in its armoury are exhausted, the BJP's think-tank is taking Congress candidate T.N. Seshan's stand on the Narmada dam as an election issue in the concluding phase of the campaign in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency.BJP poll strategists are exploiting what they allege was an anti-dam stance taken by Seshan when he was secretary in the Environment Ministry during the Rajiv Gandhi regime.They are also focussing on the fact that the pro-dam Narmada Abhyan had asked the Congress candidate to clarify his stance on the dam issue. Seshan, all along, has been telling voters that it was during his stint as Environment Secretary that environmental clearance had been granted for the dam.``Since the BJP has no other issues to mount a personal attack on the former CEC, who is being seen as an able administrator and a crusader against corruption, the ruling party now seems to be trying its luck with the Narmada. But, this will also not work in favour Advani,'' GPCC leader and former Education Minister Hasmukh Patel said on Wednesday.He asked, ``Why hasn't Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee convened a meeting of the chief ministers of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, the four states which will benefit from the Narmada dam, as he had done in the case of the Cauvery dispute?''Patel said even Lal Krishna Advani, Union Home Minister, who represents Gandhinagar in the Lok Sabha, and is the BJP's renominated candidate, had done little to resolve the dam issue.The BJP's playing the Kargil card is not working everywhere. However, in middle-class areas like Ellis Bridge, Sabarmati, and Sarkhej, the Kargil factor may work for the BJP. In other areas, the focus is mainly either on local issues.Tactically, Seshan has all along desisted from criticising the rival BJP or its candidate during his door-to-door campaign, mainly concentrating on issues such as economy, security, law and order and high moral standards in society. He speaks on the Narmada only to counter the charges being levelled against him by the BJP.And what is the mood of voters? They seem to be tired of all that politicians promise. Says Bharat Patel, a trader from the Sabarmati area, ``Our politicians, particularly those in power, are gloating over the Kargil victory, caring two hoots for other burning issues, including the country's crippled economy.''Local issues bother them. Advani's long absence from Gandhinagar is being resented by voters, especially those in government services. ``I tried and tested Advani by casting my vote in his favour in the last Lok Sabha polls, but I don't trust him. He has done little to get local problems solved. We could not make any representation to him, for he hardly visited his constituency. And he never hired the two-room modest house he promised to hire to stay here,'' says Bhikhalal Mistry, a garage owner.Residents of Gandhinagar have been demanding piped gas for cooking, upgradation of Gandhinagar railway station, a direct railway link with Delhi, full-time telecast of DD-2 programmes, telephone connections, etc.The Gandhinagar Shaher Vasahat Mahamandal, a residents' organisation, has been making representations to the centre, through Advani, to resolve these long-pending issues. ``But, our long wait continues. Advani owes an explanation for this,'' says Arun Buch, president of the Mahamandal.However, one change is discernible. Muslim voters, for the first time since the Babri Masjid demolition, seem to be in favour of the Congress. Says Sarfaraz Khan, a resident of Shahpur, ``The Sangh Parivar's attempt to give communal colour to the Kargil conflict, triggering disturbances in Ahmedabad, has instilled a sense of insecurity in the minority community. Though Muslims, too, had burnt Nawaz Sharif's effigies to denounce the Pakistan-sponsored intrusion, certain forces in the Sangh Parivar still look upon them as traitors.''
