BJP’s urban vote share stood at 59.5 per cent, while Congress secured 32.8 per cent in 2012 polls; most voters vouch for development brought about by BJP govt.
Ahmedabad: The urban vote, which propelled the BJP to a decisive victory in the 2012 Gujarat elections, still remains key to its fortunes in 2017.
However, with effects of demonetisation, GST as well as 22 years of anti-incumbency making the party vulnerable, questions are being raised whether the BJP would lose some of its grip on urban seats.
For instance, in Ahmedabad district — where the BJP won 17 of 21 seats and Congress only four — urban voters continue to stand firmly behind the BJP. ThePrint spoke to electorate across 10 assembly constituencies in Ahmedabad —Daskroi, Nikol, Bapunagar, Asarwa (SC), Ellisbridge, Maninagar, Danilimda (SC), Ghatlodia, Vejalpur and Sanand and found formidable support for the BJP.
Among the 21 seats, the Congress had won Sanand, Viramgam, Dariapur and Danilimda.
The BJP registered an urban vote share of 59.5 percent, while the Congress secured 32.8 percent in 2012.
Among most voters in Ahmedabad, ‘vikas’ (development) brought about by the BJP government emerged as the key refrain. GST and demonetisation seemed to have become a non-issue and the Patel agitation holds little traction here.
Rajeshbhai Gondoliya in Daskroi constituency, for instance, points to the road outside his shop as an example of development. “There has been massive development in my area. There is nothing we don’t have. Issues like GST and demonetisation now barely matter,” he said.
Kamlesh Patel and Lalit Patel, who run a photocopying shop a few streets away, claim the Patidar issue has “no meaning here”. “We don’t even want reservations. It should all be equal,” said Kamlesh.
“Anyway, the Congress has both Alpesh Thakor and Hardik Patel and it’s not possible to meet the demand of both sides. Rahul Gandhi got everything on a platter. But we like BJP’s work and support it,” he added.
Manoj Patel in Nikol constituency backs BJP because of the “safety as well law and order” it has ensured.
While some voters say the situation is “50:50”, they do feel BJP “should and will come to power”.
This support for the BJP among urban voters seems to span across generations.
Born in 1911, Manibhai Patel has seen elections for many decades. Sitting in his old, charming bungalow in Maninagar’s Raman Nagar, he vouches for Narendra Modi’s work and says he will go to vote for BJP.
Similar sentiments were echoed by 103-year-old Umiyaben Patel in the Ghatlodiya constituency.
To be sure, the BJP does have its share of hiccups. In Danilimda, for instance, voters stand by their Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar and say his “good work would ensure that his constituency votes for him”.
Voters from the Muslim community firmly back Congress. “What has BJP even done? It’s Congress for us,” said Altaf Mohsin, a resident of Vejalpur.
Akhtar Malik at Elisbridge blames BJP for “inflation, demonetisation, GST and not bringing development to all”.
Then, there are some odd voters in different constituencies, who want change. They are of the view that “two decades is too long a time”.
However, the larger picture shows that the BJP continues its grip over urban Gujarat. The Congress party, meanwhile, seems to have made little inroads into these areas.
There is also a section of voters, for whom the BJP and the Congress are the two sides of the same coin.
“BJP has done little in terms of bringing jobs. My son is an engineer but has been jobless for three years. If BJP comes to power, it brings bekari (joblessness) and if Congress comes, it brings gundagardi (lawlessness),” said Prabhudas Patel of Sanand assembly constituency.
“I don’t want to vote for BJP, but there is no way I will vote for the Congress either. Hence, I’d rather press the NOTA button,” he added.