Cong’s final push — a promise of service even at 3 am, grievance hearing over snack and tea

Hari Bharwad, a local Congress worker, started the proceedings on Friday evening by informing the crowd that ice-cream was ready, but urged them to listen to candidates before it was served. “Our candidates will wake up at 3 o’clock in the night if you needed their help. But, do you know who our sitting corporators are?,” asked Hari at the meeting in Maldhari Chowk of Nehrunagar Private area, a relatively poor neighbourhood in otherwise posh locality of Ward No.11.
The meeting attended by Congress candidates Parul Der, Vasant Malvi, Ghanshyamsinh Jadeja and Paresh Harsonda was held minutes before time for electioneering for the November 22 election ended at 5 pm.

Half an hour before the meeting began at 4:30 pm, three men with delivery bags reached Maldhari Chowk. They were there to deliver cups of ice-cream ordered by Congress candidates. While a goodly crowd of women did listen to what the candidates spoke, the focus of children turned to the ice-cream cups once the bags were opened.

Jadeja, who runs a plastic moulding factory, began his speech echoing Hari. “When Haribhai has given you so much confidence about us, we shall not breach that confidence. We shall act as 108 emergency service. You have given them (BJP) 15 years, I request you all to give us just five years. And you all know, they (BJP leaders) are habituated to tell lies and repeat them frequently,” he said, drawing parallels with an ambulance service that was introduced during the BJP-rule in Gujarat.

While Jadeja was delivering his speech, young volunteers started distributing cups of ice-cream among children who were seated in front of the candidates. This led to a commotion and Munnabhai Der, a Congress worker, asked teenager boys to stop distribution. “Nobody will listen to what is being said if we serve ice-crime at this time. So, stop it now,” he ordered.

Hari then invited Parul’s husband Vasur Der to address the meeting on her behalf and signalled to the women crowd to clap. “You all know that after I was elected to Nana Mava village panchayat, we had ensured that societies get internal roads. We shall continue to work for the development of the area,” Der, a real estate developer, said. Der’s son Suraj is general secretary of Gujarat unit of National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), the students’ wing of Congress.
However, after Vasur finished his address, Parul rose from her seat and took the microphone, evoking spontaneous applause from the gathering. “First of all, I wish a happy new year to you all. We need better roads in our area. But, we shall be able to do that only if you vote for us on November 22. I am sure you will vote for me and will not disappoint me,” she concluded.

Suresh Ganatra, a resident of Ramvihar Society in the area, alleged irregularities by the RMC in awarding contracts for various work during the rule of BJP. Girish Bhayani, another leader from Ramvihar Society, hinted at the Patidar agitation. “You have seen in the last few years what BJP does. There is an opportunity now to elect new leaders. The atmosphere is there. We have four candidates who are eager to work, plus Vasurbhai is always there for us,” he said, appealing the crowd to vote for Congress.

At the end of the meeting when distribution of ice-cream was in full-swing, Hari made one last offer. “You may enjoy your cup of ice cream today. But I assure you that our candidates will offer you ‘ganthiya’ and tea any time you go to meet them in future. You can see for yourself that Vasurbhai has his office here and tea stall is right adjacent to it,” he blared pointing to Der’s office in the backdrop.

Ward No.11 is dominated by the Patidars and is believed to be a BJP strong-hold. However, it had seen worst violence in the city after police lathi-charged a Patidar rally in Ahmedabad for demanding OBC status and reservation in August this year. Sitting BJP corporators Bhikha Vasoya, who is also president of Rajkot city unit of the BJP and Raju Boricha are seeking re-election from this ward. But, they were confronted by the Patidar women of Rajdeep Society at an election meeting on Wednesday over provision of drinking water and garbage collection.

Thaltej, Ahmedabad
In contrast to BJP’s campaign in Thaltej ward of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Congress poll meeting in the same ward on Thursday night was a low-key affair, right from the size of gathering, speakers, venue and arrangements.

The 30-minute meeting started with a brief introduction of the Congress panel of candidates from Thaltej ward that is under Chief Minister Anandiben Patel’s Ghatlodiya Assembly constituency and is dominated by the Patidar voters (majority form north Gujarat, including Mehsana and settled in the this newly-developed area) with a rough count of 18,000-20,000 out of nearly 80,000 voters.

Calling for a “change” in regime, the Congress leaders not only negated BJP’s development claims, criticising the projects like Bus Rapid Transit System and the burden of high taxation during BJP’s 14 year-rule, the partymen also raised the issue of the Patidar agitation to stress up how “BJP has been using force” to curb dissent in the state.

Drawing an analogy with Narendra Modi’s remarks of chest measuring 56-inch, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) secretary Shashikant Patel said, “This 56-inch chest means 3 seats in Delhi and 53 in Bihar for BJP. You (Narendra Modi) defamed Manmohan Singh on inflation and reached Delhi and today look at the price of pulses that range between Rs 80-200.”

“What happened to the Patels can happen to any other community too. Today it is Patel’s turn, tomorrow it can be others. BJP has been using force to curb voices. So there should be a change at a right time. Look at Gandhinagar where we have to get permission at the gates of secretariat to meet or register our complaints with our elected representatives. This was not so during the time of the Congress,” Shashikant said during a meeting having thinner attendance and sans dinner party. The BJP had held an elaborate meeting in the same ward a day ago.

Rejecting the development claims of BJP, Shashikant said, “The party has been claiming of have spent Rs 8,000 crore in Ahmedabad in last five years. If this is the case then the city would have been turned into a mega city.”

One of the candidates, Mukesh Patel who contested unsuccessfully from the same ward in 2010, hoped that anti-incumbency factor would work in the favour of Congress party this time. He also stressed on bringing in a change in leadership. “Change is the law of universe. It is only Gujarat that has given repeated opportunities to BJP and let it continue for 14 years; look at other states like Punjab, Maharashtra, Rajasthan. The states that are less educated than us, change governments after five years, but here elected representatives know that whatever they do or not, it is Narendra Modi who brings victory by merely raising his hands,” said Mukesh Patel

Arun Agrawal, president of New Thaltej Residences Association that has nearly 25-30 societies, also criticised BJP’s development claims and said because of BRTS other traffic suffers.