Cong unit to have final say on seats

AHMEDABAD, Aug 12: Even as the Congress high command dithers over the final list of candidates for Gujarat in the wake of hectic lobbying...

AHMEDABAD, Aug 12: Even as the Congress high command dithers over the final list of candidates for Gujarat in the wake of hectic lobbying and counter-lobbying, it has entrusted the task of finalising candidates for three contentious seats of Gandhinagar, Bharuch and Jamnagar to State leaders.

The decision will help the party’s State unit to ensure early finalisation of names. This became possible only after GPCC president C D Patel convince the high command that whatever might be the central leaders’ opinions and strategies, ultimately it was the ground realities that should take precedence over other considerations in finalisation of names in certain constituencies.

In a clever strategy this time, the party has decided to field a tribal candidate from Bharuch, a Patel candidate from Jamnagar and either a Patel or Thakor candidate from Gandhinagar. Gandhinagar being a weak spot for the Congress, it would be impractical of the party to “sacrifice” a good candidate who can win from elsewhere. This explains why Shankersinh Vaghela has moved to Kapadvanj.

But there has to be a sacrificial candidate, and a good one at that. The selection of a candidate for Gandhinagar would also depend on who gets the ticket for Mehsana seat. If a Patel (read Atmaram Patel) gets a berth in Mehsana, it has to be a Thakor (read Jagdish Thakor) in Gandhinagar. But if it is a Thakor (read Mansinh Thakor) candidate from Mehsana, it is bound to be a Patel (read Natwarlal Patel) from Gandhinagar to strike the caste balance.

As for the Jamnagar seat, the name of Raghavji Patel is almost final. However, the high command’s insistence on fielding a minority community candidate brightens the chances of a reluctant Mohammad Husain Baloch. The issue has been left to the discretion of State party leaders which means Patel is sure to make it.

The Bharuch case is also a delicate one and all hinges on whether the party succeeds in convincing Chhotubhai Vasava who now heads the (whatever-is-left-of) Janata Dal in the State. He has joined forces with Sharad Yadav but the Congress is still hoping against hope of roping him in. If that does not materialise, Amarsinh Vasava is going to get the coveted berth.

Though the party has officially declared so far a list of only nine (which includes seven who have been renominated) candidates but unofficially, at least 13 others have been asked to start preparations for jumping into the fray. These include Dilipsinh Gohil (Bhavnagar), Urmilaben Patel (Vadodara), Girish Dani (Ahmedabad), Chandu Faldu (Porbandar), Virji Thumar (Amreli), Vitthal Radadia (Rajkot), Pravin Rashtrapal (Patan), Savshi Makwana (Surendranagar), Pethalji Chavda (Junagadh), Shankersinh Vaghela (Kapadvanj), Rupin Pachchigar (Surat) and Uttambhai Patel (Valsad).

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Meanwhile, the mood at the party office is getting livelier by the day. On Thursday itself, around three dozen supporters of former Rajya Sabha member Raju Parmar stormed the chamber of PCC chief C D Patel shouting slogans against Manubhai Paramar who figures on the panel of nominees for the Dhandhuka parliamentary constituency. They were vociferously demanding that the ticket be given to Raju Parmar instead of Manubhai Parmar. Manubhai is at present deputy leader of Opposition in the State Assembly.

The group of Raju Parmar’s supporters left C D Patel’s chamber only after they were assured by Patel that he would convey their sentiments to the high command. However, looking to the delicate balance of casteist calculations, odds are heavily in favour of Manubhai Parmar.