It could also consolidate the OBCs against the Patidars who are demanding affirmative action. However, the only catch is, would the public be ready to accept a third chief minister from the same party in a year’s time? A senior BJP leader told Mirror, “No announcement in this regard is likely to come in before end of January but there definitely is a movement to prepone polls in Gujarat.
We feel this will benefit us.” BJP has been doing phenomenally well in Gujarat since 2002. At present, BJP has 123 of the 182 seats in the State Assembly. A source, a BJP leader with strong connections in Delhi, told Mirror, “A new chief ministerial candidate for the party has not yet been decided so I cannot comment on this but at the moment current Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and senior BJP leader Shankar Chaudhry’s names are doing the rounds. A dark horse may also emerge.” RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is camping in Gujarat since last four days.
He is leading a four-day pracharak meeting, chalking out strategies to woo tribals into the BJP fold. He has already spoken to nearly 200 people. “The BJP and RSS are ready for elections in Gujarat,” an RSS leader told Mirror. “We are ready to go to polls along with UP and Punjab. In fact, that will benefit us largely,” a BJP minister said. Mirror spoke to over 18 different BJP and RSS leaders.
(Sourced from agencies, feature image courtesy:economictimes.indiatimes.com)
