Dilip Parikh is facing a problem: the people of his constituency, Dhandhuka, want a representative, not a chief minister. Located just 100 km from Ahmedabad, the area is a picture of political apathy. Power is erratic, water scarce and roads in a state of neglect. Knowing where he stands, the Rashtriya Janata Party (RJP) leader, who has won this seat twice, avoided entering Dhandhuka town during the whole campaign period this time.The memories of a visit here last year are perhaps fresh in Parikh's mind. The Chief Minister had been manhandled by an angry crowd at a meeting and had to be ultimately rescued by the police. The significance of his non-appearance now is not lost on Dhandhuka. ``He is chickening out because this town has rejected him for his misdeeds,'' says Kirti Bhatt, a BJP sympathiser.And that isn't the only one of Parikh's problems. The RJP leader - who reportedly did not want to contest this time - is one of the main targets of the BJP that is thirsting for revenge for itsunceremonious topple from power.The Chief Minister's poll managers are trying desperately to refute charges that he has neglected the seat. ``It is not true,'' claims one of them. ``Parikh has covered the entire constituency and his good work will give him an edge over all the opponents.'' RJP general secretary Vishnu Pandya adds that the party's government has done a lot for the constituency, including drafting a multi-crore water scheme. But not many believe the claims. Says Nishaben, who lives in Dhandhuka town: ``We get water only for half an hour in a week. All of us are forced to buy water from water vendors. What will I do with a chief minister or even a prime minister if he cannot provide the most basic thing?''Others cite the area's industrial backwardness. Despite the concessions granted by the Government, only a handful of small industries have come up here. The industrial estate developed by the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation about six years ago still wears a deserted look.Though electric poles have been erected and plots allotted to people, they are not setting up industries. ``The reason is poor infrastructure and irregular power supply,'' says a plot holder, refusing to identify himself.The BJP and Congress have been quick to exploit the disillusionment. The BJP has put up Bharat Pandaya, who till last month was working as a secretary in the party's main office at Khanpur. Normally soft-spoken, Pandaya has not been mincing words and has termed Parikh a ``gaddar (traitor)''.The Congress's Mahendrasinh Chudasma is busy convincing people that he is the only candidate who will always be available for voters in the seat and will not fly off to Gandhinagar or Ahmedabad. An obvious reference to Parikh, an industrialist belonging to Ahmedabad who is now in power in Gandhinagar, and Pandya, who shifted base to Ahmedabad a few years ago.Parikh also has to cope with a virtually unknown party symbol. Voters may find it difficult to connect with the RJP's ``bugle'', particularlyas Parikh himself has contested the seat earlier on the BJP's ``lotus''.To add to the confusion, Assembly elections are being held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls. And the BJP candidate for the Dhandhuka Lok Sabha constituency has nursed the seat well and is almost set to win again.But both the RJP and Parikh cannot afford to lose this seat. With party chief Shankersinh Vaghela not contesting, the RJP's hopes are resting almost entirely on Parikh. As for the CM, a loss could mean the end of his political career.
