Saurashtra humbles poll pundits, goes BJP’s way

The BJP today proved the poll pundits wrong in Saurashtra and maintained its hold over the Patel-dominated region, winning 37 of the 52 seat...

The BJP today proved the poll pundits wrong in Saurashtra and maintained its hold over the Patel-dominated region, winning 37 of the 52 seats.

The Congress, which had expected the anti-incumbency factor to work in its favour got only 14 seats. Except for a few shock defeats for BJP heavyweights — Irrigation Minister Babubhai Bokhiriya, Agriculture Minister Purshottam Rupala, Social Welfare Minister Fakirbhai Vaghela and Jamnagar district chief Mulu Bera — Hindutva and Keshubhai Patel’s clout helped the party sail smoothly.

Accusing the BJP of failing to keep its promises made in the last elections, the Congress had banked heavily on Saurashtra to capture Gandhinagar. It raised the issues of development, water and power crisis but failed to offer solutions.


Vajubhai Vala’s victory procession in Rajkot II

But in the end, Keshubhai’s rigorous campaign and Modi’s plank of security and terrorism made up for poor governance. Even Congress spokesperson Valji Bagda conceded that Modi had cast his spell though he added that the Congress gained nine seats.

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Some of the BJP’s stalwarts, however, lost to Congress newcomers. Rupala lost Amreli to 26-year-old Paresh Dhanani. Bokhiriya lost after the Kharwa community of Porbandar withdrew support. Fakirsinh Vaghela was defeated in Dasada.

The BJP swept aside the Congress in Rajkot district, winning nine of the 11 seats. In Bhavnagar district, the BJP retained eight of the nine seats. Congress candidate Pravin Maru won in Gadhada. In Surendranagar district’s six seats, the BJP retained three of five it won last time. The Congress lost one of its two seats to an Independent.

Except for a few shock defeats for party heavyweights, former CM Keshubhai Patel’s clout in Patel-dominated region and sentiments of Hindutva compensate for poor governance as BJP keeps 37 of the 52 seats

Of the eight seats in Jamnagar district, the BJP won five. Despite sitting MLA Parmanand Khattar’s revolt, the party’s Vasuben Trivedi won the Jamnagar City seat. The Congress won Jamnagar Rural, Dwarka and the Bhanvad seat.

The BJP won six and the Congress four of the 11 seats in Junagadh. The Congress wrested the minority-dominated Somnath-Veraval and Mangrol from the BJP, which took away Talala from Congress.

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Prominent Lossers

Bharatiya Janata Party
• Mandvi: Suresh Mehta
• Rapar: Dhirubhai Shah
• Amreli: Purshottam Rupala z Kadi: Nitin Patel
• Dasada: Fakir Vaghela
• Porbander: Babu Bokhiriya
• Chikli: Kanji Patel
• Bhanwad: Mulu Bera
• Gandhinagar: Vadibhai Patel z Sidhpur: Jaynarayan Vyas

Congress
• Sami: Mahendrasinh Vaghela, son of GPCC chief Shankersinh Vaghela
• Dhandhuka: Dilip Parikh
Sabarmati: Narhari Amin, former deputy CM
• Vijapur: Naresh Rawal
• Dabhoi: Siddharth Patel, son of former CM Chimanbhai Patel
• Nadiad: Dinshaw Patel, who has never tasted defeat before
• Danta: Mukesh Ghadvi, former Union minister B.K. Gadhvi’s son
• Asarva: Chetan Raval, son of Prabodh Raval
• Sojitra: Bharat Makwana, former Union minister Yogendra Makwana’s son
Bharatiya Janata Party
• Maninagar: Narendra Modi
• Rakhial: Gordhan Zadaphia
• Naroda: Maya Kodnani
• Sarkhej: Amit Shah
• Lunawada: Kalubhai Maliwad, who had spent seven months in prison for his role in the communal riots
• Godhra: Haresh Bhatt
• Patan: Anandiben Patel, State Education Minister

Congress
• Vyara: Tushar Chaudhary, son of former chief minister Amarsinh Chaudhary
• Borsad: Bharat Solanki, son of former chief minister Madhavsinh Solanki
• Khedbrahma: Amarsinh Chaudhary

Prominent Winners

Bharatiya Janata Party
• Maninagar: Narendra Modi
• Rakhial: Gordhan Zadaphia
• Naroda: Maya Kodnani
• Sarkhej: Amit Shah
• Lunawada: Kalubhai Maliwad, who had spent seven months in prison for his role in the communal riots
• Godhra: Haresh Bhatt
• Patan: Anandiben Patel, State Education Minister