BJP,Congress go all out to add ‘professional’ touch to poll war

Meanwhile,BJP’s legal cell is banking on its lawyers to influence the voters. J J Patel,Convenor,BJP Legal Cell,explained,“Our assessment indicates that nearly 18 per cent of the state’s population is in direct contact with some lawyer. So we have instructed our members to mobilise support for the BJP.” The party expects a swing of 5 per cent votes in their favour due to this,Patel claimed.

Both parties are also utilising doctors in door-to-door campaigning as well as in organising group meetings. Party-sponsored medical camps are also in the pipeline. Dr Vidhyut Desai,president,Gujarat Congress Doctor Cell,said,“If the jaundice menace spreads further,we will organise a medical camp for the patients.”

While emphasising on the support provided by the legal team in the recently concluded black money referendum in Gujarat,Dr Anil Patel,Convenor,BJP Doctor Cell added,“We have planned a Gujarat Doctor’s Sammelan on April 22 in Ahmedabad,which will be attended by nearly 1,000 doctors.”

Small meetings of 50-60 doctors are also being organised at the taluka level. The BJP has also planned to use the services of doctors in micro planning for booths. Anil Patel explained: “Our doctor cell members are part of the booth management team,which comprises of one booth pramukh and 15 party workers. They are responsible for mobilising 25 families in their locality for party’s support.”

The two parties have also roped in academicians and professors of elite institutes like IIMs to advise and frame the party policies on various issues. Although these academicians are unwilling to share the limelight,party sources informed that the literature (read manifesto) has largely been shaped by the inputs from the intelligentsia. The BJP even conducted an orientation camp for academicians in Ahmedabad a month ago,which saw the participation of about 40 faculty members from various professional institutes of the state. Bharat Gariwala,Convenor,BJP Economic Cell,added,“People like Bakul Dholakia (former IIM-A director) and members of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry,are in constant touch with us.”

Realising that the professionally educated section of the society rarely attend public meetings,the political parties in Gujarat are organising special evening meetings for this section. For example,the BJP has organised meetings in Rajkot and Junagadh,with Devang Nanavati of Lead India fame,as guest speaker.

Nanavati said: “Almost every meeting is witnessing an attendance of over 1,200 professionals. More such meetings are scheduled in Jamnagar,Vadodara,Surat and Bhavnagar,later this week.”

The parties have turned to multimedia professionals for advertising their achievements and the “misdeeds” of the opponent.

Asit Vora,who is the BJP’s advertising in-charge,said: “We have submitted short clippings of Advaniji’s and Modi’s speeches to the Election Commission for approval,which is expected in a day or two.”

The Congress,on the other hand,is relying on Gujarati songs and TV commercials to garner votes. Chetan Rawal,a member of the Congress’ media committee said,“A number of professional multimedia firms were consulted on this and they will be involved during the campaign as well.”