Bumpy road ahead for the BJP in Gujarat tribal district

So much so that vehicles of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) hardliners’ can be seen sputtering through the bumpy tracks in the district. Some of the VHP members even dared to venture into the lonely roads in the interiors of Dahod, like Limkheda taluka, while others restricted themselves to the narrow streets of Dahod town.

All this is an attempt to “organise” tribals for the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) cause, under the aegis of Vanvasi Parishad, a VHP agency. Sources in the BJP say that the agency will work upon issues pertaining to exploitation of tribals, cow slaughter and many others at a later stage. As of now, the BJP is “just trying to make a beginning”, of course, with the much needed help of the VHP. “Obviously, the VHP has a better workforce and a better base here,” a BJP member said.

It is evident that the contest is not going to be a cakewalk for the BJP. Limbdi MLA Bachubhai Kishori, Jhalod’s Dittabhai Machhar and Santrampur’s Mansinh Bhammat (all Congress) as well as RJP’s MLAs Raisinh Parmar (Limkheda) and Pratapsinh Patel (Devgadh Baria) have a strong support base here. But the VHP is not sparing any eforts to ensure BJP’s victory. In any case, BJP MLAs Tersinh Damor and Jaswantsinh Bhabhor are very popular in Dahod and Randhikpur.

BJP leaders have also begun to accompany VHP leaders during their campaign.

Besides Damor and Bhabhor, two more BJP leaders have begun to accompany VHP’s firebrand leaders Pravin Togadia and Acharya Dharmendra. These two BJP leaders, Ajitsinhy Rathod, president of the Dahod Sales and Purchase Association and Shantaben Makwana, a taluka-level leader, are expected to get tickets in the forthcoming Assembly polls.

Meanwhile, all those high class leaders with mobile phones (that they do not work here is another matter altogether) and air-conditioned cars are expected to begin campaigning from January 26. They will be making speeches on behalf of Vanvasi Parishad. Incidentally, the Parishad had so far been concentrating on keeping a tab on the activities of Christian missionaries and creating awareness against superstitions among tribals.

Besides all this, Dilipsinh Bhuria from bordering Madhya Pradesh, is helping the BJP in Dahod. But how far all these efforts will bear fruit remains to be seen. For decades, the region has seen only the `regime’ of Somji Damor from Congress. Whether the BJP will be able to upseat him or not is a moot question….the uncertainty compounded by the fact that no senior BJP leader has visited Dahod as yet.