Deep in the tribal belt of Rajasthan, BJP worker Tulsi Ram Patel has a theory on how the BJP can make inroads into the Congress-dominated area. He is all for the Gujarat model where the BJP achieved ‘‘victory against all odds’’ a year ago. A great fan of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Patel firmly believes that ‘‘Modi magic’’ will be a key factor in deciding the fate of the BJP in the Congress bastions that border Gujarat. ‘‘There is so much brotherhood among the people in these districts,’’ says Patel. ‘‘Our people go there to work, we have relatives there. The biggest example of our bond is Godhra. When Gujarat burned, so did Kherwada, Sagwara and other areas in Rajasthan.’’ Something the state administration is keen on averting. The police chief has reassured the state election commission that his force will not let “Gujarat happen here’’. The state government is on guard as well. The caution is not unwarranted because like Patel, there are many in these border areas who believe that this time when their colleagues from Gujarat come down for campaigning, it will mean much more than it ever has. Ten days ago, at a meeting in Dungarpur, local BJP workers sat down with their Gujarat counterparts and worked out a strategy for the upcoming polls. A detailed schedule has been planned for hundreds of BJP workers from Gujarat, who will canvass across the tribal belt. The BJP has divided the 35-odd tribal constituencies in Rajasthan’s Dungarpur, Banswada, Sirohi and Chittod districts between the Saurashtra, Sabarkantha, Mehsana, Patan, Kutch and Banaskantha units in Gujarat. ‘‘It is a normal thing,’’ says Kiran Maheshwari, BJP’s Mahila Morcha chief. ‘‘We go there. They come here.” Maheshwari is right on the mutual cooperation that has been going on for years. What she leaves unsaid though is the impact the party is hoping for after Modi’s victory post Godhra. ‘‘Hindutva has never really worked here,’’ says Jayantilal Jain, a shopkeeper selling Garasiya (tribals of the region) lehengas in the heart of Pindwara town. ‘‘But each time they come, they do raise the issue. This time it will be after Hindutva has worked like a charm for Modi in Gujarat. Everyone is curious to see what they say and do this time.’’ The BJP is hoping Rajasthanis who go to Gujarat for work already have an idea of the Modi formula. ‘‘People who go from here to Gujarat and work have had a chance to see what good work is being done under a BJP government there,’’ says Maheshwari. ‘‘We are trying to woo the Rajasthanis living in Gujarat to come back home and cast their vote. If they come here to vote, it will definitely go in favour of the BJP.’’ Many believe the BJP’s surprise win in the Sagwara bypoll a year ago was due to the Gujarat effect. ‘‘The overwhelming victory in the tribal belts of Gujarat, which have always been a Congress domain, has given the party hope here,’’ says a BJP worker. ‘‘There is a general belief a dent has been created in the Congress stronghold and this time the BJP is looking to capitalise on it.’’ POLL '03: MADHYA PRADESH Modi heads for Dhar to add a dash of Hindutva to campaign
