BJP’s vulnerability in the district stems from the presence of a large number of influential Kadva Patel voters, who support Hardik Patel’s quota demand.
Mehsana, Gujarat: Deepak Patel, a shop owner in a crowded market area in Mehsana city, strongly affirms his allegiance to Patidar leader Hardik Patel. And that for him, a self-confessed BJP supporter, means the Congress must come to power this time.
“I support Hardik, we want reservations. We want to teach the BJP a lesson, and hence, will vote for the Congress,” he said.
“During our protests, the police killed 14 people from our community. Are we terrorists,” Deepak asked, even as he admits that “it is not confirmed we will get reservations if Congress wins”.
Mehsana district is a major challenge for the BJP. The party’s vulnerability here stems from the presence of a large number of influential Kadva Patel voters, who have been agitating with Hardik Patel demanding reservations.
Mehsana is, in a sense, the epicentre of the Patidar agitation — one of the biggest sore points for the BJP in this election. A massive rally of the Patel community in Mehsana town demanding reservation and release of their jailed leaders had turned violent in April.
The support for Hardik and the Congress, with whom he has an understanding, as well as the resentment towards the BJP among the Patidar community in this district, however, are not absolute.
While the anger against the BJP and support for Hardik are more palpable in Mehsana city, which falls under BJP deputy chief minister Nitin Patel’s constituency, it is hardly visible in some rural pockets.
For instance, the mood in Ambasan village in Bechraji assembly constituency is different. “We back Modi’s BJP because of the development work they have shown in the past 22 years. We don’t consider Hardik Patel to be a leader of our community. He is a Congress agent, a Congress chamcha (sycophant), who has been propped up only to harm BJP,” said octogenarian Jitaram Patel.
“Earlier, my grandchildren were backing Hardik and Congress but now they support BJP,” added Jitaram. Other senior members from the community echoed the sentiments.
Tanubhai Patel, who runs a shop selling submersible pumps in the city, says the community is very angry with the BJP for how it treated the Patidars, and for the “police atrocities” during protests. “Enough of BJP’s Hitlershahi (dictatorship). The party has become arrogant now,” he claimed.
Jayantibhai Patel, who owns a watch shop in the city, said he doesn’t really stand with Hardik but wants change. “I have been a BJP voter, it has been a Patel party. But this time, we need change. The BJP hasn’t helped our community at all,” he said.
Most members of the community here believe Nitin Patel did not stand up for them during the violence involving the protesters and the police and if he had, the anger against the BJP could have been contained. At this point, the senior BJP leader does look vulnerable in his seat.
In Mehsana constituency’s Heduva Hanumant village, Punjiram Patel claims he no longer supports Hardik because of his realisation that the Patidar quota is not possible. Now, Punjiram is a BJP supporter.
In Amipura village in Bechraji constituency, Anubhai Patel is all praise for the BJP. “We have good roads, 24-hour power and water; what else do we want? We don’t even think about the Congress,” he said.
“As far as Hardik is concerned, it’s all gappe (fibs). We know we can’t get such quotas, it’s not legally possible,” Anubhai added.
Even as the issue of reservations keeps the pot boiling, Bishnubhai Patel, a young farmer in Vasai village in Vijapur assembly constituency, has what he believes to be a more fundamental issue to raise.
“What I worry about is not getting adequate price for my cotton produce. I can barely recover my money, there is little margin. Why should I vote for BJP then? Inflation has hurt us badly. This time, I support Congress,” he said.
Mehsana district has seven MLAs —five from the BJP and two from the Congress.