Chhabildas faces uphill task

MAHUVA, February 24: The one who pays the piper, plays the tune: Nothing can be more appropriate than this adage for Mahuva. If the regional...

MAHUVA, February 24: The one who pays the piper, plays the tune: Nothing can be more appropriate than this adage for Mahuva. If the regional and local newspapers are to be believed, there will be no loser here. The reason: The coverage of election campaigning is up for grabs for those who can pay the price.

But a closer look at the election scene reveals that everything is not hunky-dory for the rebellious Chhabildas Mehta. Mehta, who was the first Congress leader from this town to occupy the Chief Minister8217;s post before the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP wrenched it from him in 1995, is in the habit of winning. But this time, he is facing quite a stiff challenge not only from the BJP but also from the Rashtriya Janata Party RJP whose supremo, Shankersinh Vaghela, has grand designs to defeat him.

8220;He is setting up mines to blast me. But, the voters of this area understand all such tricks and will certainly not fall for the mischievous gameplan of Vaghela,8221; declares Mehta. Vaghela, incidentally, has manyscores to settle with Mehta for the latter8217;s no-holds-barred crusade to dislodge Vaghela from the Chief Ministership he ultimately succeeded in December last.

As RJP nominee Pratapbhai Nanjibhai Gohil is hardly any challenge to Mehta, Vaghela tried to win over some of Mehta8217;s main campaigners to damage the Congressman8217;s poll prospects.

The real challenge to Mehta comes from BJP nominee Kanubhai Kalasaria, a political underdog but a very tall figure socially. Dr Kalsaria is a surgeon and has been serving people through his charitable hospital located in Vadil near Mahuva. 8220; His scalpel and knife have more appeal than all the promises of Mehta put together,8221; said Rajendrasinh Rana, who is trying to retain his Bhavnagar Lok Sabha seat. However, Dhanjibhia, a resident of Satya Sadan, says, 8220;The doctor is not a popular figure among the poor people in this area because he hardly treated anyone free of charge.closeness.8221;

Much to Mehta8217;s chagrin, his one-time close associate Shantibhai Mehta has turnedagainst him and is challenging him as an Independent candidate. Belonging to the same Bania community and with a fairly good number of sympathisers in the Congress as well, this friend-turned-foe is not making things easy for the older Mehta. But one of Mehta8217;s campaign managers claimed, 8220;He is a political nonentity. You will see that he will lose his deposit also.8221;