Sachin Pilot said, "We have to see how we can make Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra a success".Bhopal: Congress's Sachin Pilot has brushed off Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's sharp attack on him as "false and unfounded allegations" that completely "unnecessary". Mr Gehlot, he hinted, will do better to focus on Gujarat, which is practically days away from the state elections. Mr Gehlot is the party in-charge of the state."Ashok Gehlot called me 'incompetent', 'traitor' and made lots of allegations. These allegations are completely false, unfounded and unnecessary," Mr Pilot told news agency ANI.The need of the hour, he said, is to strengthen the Congress party. "We have to see how we can make Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra a success because that's what the country needs," said Mr Pilot, who flew down to Madhya Pradesh today to join the foot-march."Only Congress can challenge the BJP in the country. Elections are underway in Gujarat, where Ashok Gehlot is in-charge. We have to put up a united fight to defeat the BJP," he added.He also mentioned the election in Rajasthan, due next year. "We formed government twice in Rajasthan under the leadership of Ashok Gehlot. But then we lost both elections… Despite that, when the party high command wanted him to head the government, we accepted it. This time our focus should be on winning the coming election, he said."Under the circumstances, it does not look well for a leader of his seniority to talk about such issues," he added.Mr Gehlot, in an exclusive interview to NDTV today, had launched a no-holds-barred attack on Mr Pilot, accusing him of being a "traitor" to the party. "A gaddar (traitor) cannot be Chief Minister… the High Command cannot make Sachin Pilot the Chief Minister... a man who doesn't have 10 MLAs, revolted. He betrayed the party, (he) is a traitor," Mr Gehlot said, referring to the 2020 episode when Mr Pilot had camped out in Delhi for days with his loyalist MLAs. "It must be a first for India that a party president tried to bring down his own government," he said, alleging that the revolt was "funded by the BJP" and backed by the party senior BJP leaders including its chief strategist Amit Shah.He even indicated that the Mr Pilot was responsible for the political chaos in Rajasthan, including the rebellion by Gehlot loyalists which publicly embarrassed the party and the Gandhis."It must be a first for India that a party president tried to bring down his own government," he said, alleging that the revolt was "funded by the BJP" and backed by the party senior BJP leaders including its chief strategist Amit Shah.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comMr Pilot has not apologised to the party, the state or the people, Mr Gehlot said, which made him unacceptable to the state MLAs as a candidate for the Chief Minister's post."Has he apologised, I would not have to," he added, referring to his apology to party chief Sonia Gandhi after the revolt by his loyalists during the election for the party chief's post.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has launched an all-out attack against arch rival Sachin Pilot. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, he took time out from campaigning with Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat to deliver his biggest takedown yet of Mr Pilot. Here is the full transcript of the interview:NDTV: Hello and welcome to this NDTV exclusive with Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot. The elections in Rajasthan are more than a year away. In fact, the elections right now are in Gujarat, where Mr Gehlot has been campaigning. But frankly the battle, in a sense in Rajasthan, has already begun. Is the Congress' internal turmoil proving an obstacle to Mr Gehlot, as he seeks re-election? Ashok ji, thank you very, very much, for being with us now. We are in Pali district now. You have been travelling all day, holding meetings, some scouts are also waiting for you. Tell me Ashok ji, there are elections in Rajasthan, there is time, but whatever is happening in the last few months, what we saw, is that causing tension, problems for the party's situation here?Ashok Gehlot: I have no tension. And there is none. Media is creating more. Media is creating more. Some bickering happens in all states, some rifts also happen. Media wants that it always seems like there are 2 groups here, etc. I have noticed this is media's approach everywhere.NDTV: Is this only media? You know two months back, so much tumult had happened here. 90 plus MLAs rebelled; that is not a small thing? Ashok Gehlot: It was not rebellion. In a way, because there was a rebellion earlier, when people had stayed in hotel for 34 days. These 90 people who had gathered, were those had supported in saving government at that time. Without them the government would not have been saved. NDTV: So you are saying they were loyalists of Congress in a way?Ashok Gehlot: They were loyalists of the High Command. No CM can save government without High Command. If High Command gives blessing, then people support. NDTV: What was said was that these MLAs were your loyalists. That they were Ashok Gehlot's loyalists. And they did this at your behest. Ashok Gehlot: This was nonsense, saying that. Everybody knows me, the whole country knows what my nature is. This party and the Gandhi family has for 50 years continuously rewarded me. I have been five time MP, three time union minister, three time AICC general secretary, three time PCC President, three time Chief Minister. NDTV: So you are saying this revolt had nothing to do with you? Ashok Gehlot: The question does not even arise. If even one MLA says it, I will leave the state. NDTV: Then why were they angry?Ashok Gehlot: I'm telling you. They were angry, because news was spread that Sachin Pilot will be made CM. He himself also behaved this way. People thought he is going to be CM.NDTV: Who behaved like that? Pilot?Ashok Gehlot: Pilot called many MLAs, he said you leave it to High Command, an observer will come to take your views. So the MLAs felt that there may be a one line resolution today, tomorrow will be the swearing in. Because of this rumour, all of them gathered there. NDTV: What was their issue if Pilot becomes CM? Ashok Gehlot: The problem was that because he was pulling the government down. Amit Shah was also involved in it, Dharmendra Pradhan was also involved in it. All had a meeting in Delhi. NDTV: With whom? Ashok Gehlot: Some of our MLAs had also gone, no? Some of them had meetings. Some stayed in Manesar for 34 days. In a resort. So our MLAs got angry. They said this is unusual, that the Party President goes to the opposition to topple his own government.NDTV: Pilot was State Party President at the time?Ashok Gehlot: Yes. He was Deputy CM also. It must not have happened in the history of the country before this, that a party president went to the opposition to topple his own government. It must have never happened in history. NDTV: You are saying this is why MLAs had a problem?Ashok Gehlot: Yes. The MLAs were loyal to High Command, were loyal even now. They have highest the respect and regard towards Madam Sonia Gandhi. They were angry that the observer was coming and would ask them to endorse Pilot. Pilot was requesting the MLAs himself. So such a situation was created. NDTV: But if High Command themselves gave directions to the observer, to garner support for Pilot, maybe the High Command itself wanted Pilot to be CM? Ashok Gehlot: How could they bear making Pilot CM? People who suffered for 34 days, we know how we survived the 34 days. We had to protest at Raj Bhavan. I was also present there. We worked hard to save the government. PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comNDTV: No, no. I'm saying, if the High Command wanted to make Pilot CM, then?Ashok Gehlot: No, no, no. Can't make him CM. There has been some communication gap. How can they make him? A man who doesn't have 10 MLAs. Who revolted; who has been called traitor. He betrayed the party, is a traitor. How can people accept him? NDTV: But Pilot has denied that he had nothing to do with BJP? Ashok Gehlot: No, no. He can't say that. The whole game was theirs. Rs 10 crore was distributed by the BJP. I have proof.NDTV: To all?Ashok Gehlot: I don't know to who all, some got five crore, some 10 crore. In fact the money was picked up from BJP office in Delhi. Many have picked the money up from there. They have told me themselves. NDTV: So you are saying that when Pilot denies all this, saying have nothing to do with BJPAshok Gehlot: Who? Who? I am hearing this for the first time. NDTV: You are hearing it for the first time?Ashok Gehlot: Yes, hearing it for the first time. NDTV: But Pilot has said so?Ashok Gehlot: No, no. He must have told you. NDTV: No, not just me. He has told the media, that 'I have nothing to do with BJP. I was unhappy within the Congress, and so I revolted'Ashok Gehlot: No, no. If he had gone to AICC HQ and sat there, it would have been different. For the past 50 years, protestors have gone to AICC. They have spoken to Madam. Raised their complaints. First time I saw somebody went to Manesar. Dharmendra Pradhan used to go to Manesar. Our two independent MLAs had also gone there separately. They were stopped at the hotel. They were not from the Congress. Dharmendra Pradhan used to meet them there. It was all the BJPs game. NDTV: But Ashok ji, if what you are saying is true, why has Pilot not been kicked out by Congress? In a way, he is back in the Congress?Ashok Gehlot: It is for the first time some State Congress President has been sacked. Sacking is not usual practise. Resignation is asked, and they give their resignation. Why was he sacked? Why did I as CM sack him as Deputy CM? NDTV: But if he has gone through his punishment, why can't he be CM? Ashok Gehlot: You do not get it. The MLAs are angry. They wanted that Pilot should have at least apologised to the High Command, he should have apolgised to the people of Rajasthan, to the MLAs. NDTV: He did not apologise?Ashok Gehlot: Till date Pilot has not apologised. If he had apologised, I would not have had to apologise.NDTV: Meaning you would have not have had to apologise to Sonia Gandhi? Ashok Gehlot: If Pilot had apologised, there would have been no revolt against him. The 90 MLAs' revolt was against Pilot. And after many of our ministers had said also that cannot accept gaddar, traitor... NDTV: The MLAs are saying that we won't accept a 'gaddar'. But you also agree with this?Ashok Gehlot: I accept it, of course, why not? NDTV: You also say it? Ashok Gehlot: I also say it. Make one of 102 who were loyal the CM, there is no problem. But how will we accept the man who betrayed us? NDTV: So you are ready to accept someone else as CM? Somebody other than Pilot?Ashok Gehlot: Listen to me. I'm still ready. I'm loyal to the High Command. They have to decide what is in the interest of the party. If they want to keep me, keep me. I have no objections if another face comes as long as we can win elections. NDTV: What if they make Pilot the new face?Ashok Gehlot: How can he be made? Nobody will accept him! NDTV: Nobody will accept him? Ashok Gehlot: How will they? You tell me.NDTV: But Ashok ji, Pilot says he was sidelined so much by you, that is why he got angry and decamped with his supporters? Ashok Gehlot: This is absolutely wrong. Question does not even arise. How can we sideline?NDTV: That he was not given power, his supporters were stopped from important positions?Ashok Gehlot: Absolutely wrong. In fact his supporters have told Ajay Maken that we have no complaints against the CM. We have come back. After coming back, we treated Pilot well, still. Have done no discrimination with anyone. NDTV: But the High Command may not see all this the same way?Ashok Gehlot: What do you know? NDTV: But you yourself said you had to apologise to the High Command?Ashok Gehlot: I did so because it was my moral responsibility. Despite my being CM, the MLAs did not come to the meeting. That was not revolt, it was their loyalty to the High Command. They were angry because Pilot himself was saying that he got congratulatory messages. NDTV: So High Command is not angry with you then? When you met Sonia ji, was she upset with what happened? Ashok Gehlot: Ask Sonia Gandhi that. NDTV: But you were in the meeting?Ashok Gehlot: I have the highest regard for the High Command. NDTV: But you were going to file nomination as Party President, and then you met Sonia Gandhi and came out saying you were not going to file. What happened?Ashok Gehlot: It is between them and me. It is between them and me. NDTV: But why did you withdraw?Ashok Gehlot: It is between them and me. NDTV: Okay. But overall are things not stable in Rajasthan? Ajay Maken wants to quit as central observer?Ashok Gehlot: Unhappiness is common. Today 33 people of BJP are rebelling in Gujarat, 22 in Himachal. NDTV: But Ajay Maken is senior, he is an observer?Ashok Gehlot: This bickering happens in all big parties. I believe by and large there is peace in Rajasthan. Everybody wants to work together. NDTV: Maken says there has been no action against the MLAs who revolted.Ashok Gehlot: I don't want to comment on this right now, because the matter will get distorted. NDTV: But the show cause notice was in public domain?Ashok Gehlot: No, no. It is the duty of the disciplinary committee. They have to see whose mistake it was, whose it wasn't. What can I do about that?NDTV: Ashok ji, you are saying that everything is fine in Rajasthan, but is it decided you will be CM? Ashok Gehlot: We are going to form government, why are you troubling us? NDTV: No, no. We are not troublingAshok Gehlot: We are going to form the next government in Rajasthan. NDTV: Will it be under your leadership?Ashok Gehlot: The atmosphere is such that it seems we are going to form government. It is a great ground situation. We have so many great schemes. Everybody is happy. I think this is the first time, or it is after a long time, that there is no anti-incumbency in Rajasthan. NDTV: I understand you are saying you will form the government, but will it be under your leadership?Ashok Gehlot: Today I am here. Today it is me. NDTV: But what if High Command signals that they want change? Have they given you any such indication? Ashok Gehlot: They have given me no such indication. I know that High Command will do justice with Rajasthan. We need to form the government in Rajasthan. If we form the government in Rajasthan, then there will more Congress state governments in other states. This is our focus.NDTV: You are saying... Ashok Gehlot: ...I want to say something else. I have said this in August too. It was said that I am doing this to be CM. Let me tell you, this happened in September, October. In August itself, I had told Sonia Gandhi and Ajay Maken my feelings, that it is important that we form government in Rajasthan. I have been CM three times, and held other posts. For me being the CM is not important. What is important is that if we conduct a survey, you conduct a survey, I will also conduct a survey, if it emerges our chances are better with me as CM, then I am here. If they feel, no, I need to move from the CM post, and we need to do some social engineering, based on caste, community or whatever, and only then we will be able to form government, then I have no problem withdrawing from the CM post. I also said, Amarinder Singh had revolted. I said that if I withdraw, I will continue to work and campaign like I am the CM. NDTV: So you will not revolt?Ashok Gehlot: I will work hard to form the government. I am withdrawing myself. I have told you an open secret. In Jaisalmer, when the observer had come, I was at the Pakistan border and I had given an interview, you must have heard it? NDTV: So you are saying you won't revolt even if you are removed as the CM?Ashok Gehlot: What do you mean remove? I said I am withdrawing myself. How will you remove? I'm offering to withdraw myself. NDTV: I understand what you are saying is that you are willing to withdraw yourself. But my question is, if they replace you with Pilot, would you accept it? Ashok Gehlot: How will that happen? That can't happen. NDTV: What if you are replaced with Pilot, would you revolt? Ashok Gehlot: It can't be. Why are you asking such hypothetical questions?NDTV: Pilot says in 2018, when you became CM, he was promised a rotating CM formula. Ashok Gehlot: It won't look nice if I say something on this. You can ask Rahul Gandhi. NDTV: So are you saying nothing of the sort was promised? Ashok Gehlot: The question does not even arise. Nothing like this happened. But if he still says it, then ask Rahul Gandhi about it.NDTV: So was there no such arrangement?Ashok Gehlot: There is no question about it. It was not even discussed. NDTV: What is the issue between you and Sachin Pilot? Why not settle the issues? Is it not hurting Congress? Ashok Gehlot: In 2009, when I had become CM, and the Lok Sabha elections were happening, we won 20 seats here in Rajasthan. I was called to Delhi to meet the party's Working Committee. I gave my opinion to Ahmed Patel; and Pilot knows about this. I recommended that he be made a Union Minister. NDTV: You recommended that Pilot be made a Union Minister? Ashok Gehlot: Yes. I made the recommendation because before that, 17 Gujjars were killed here in Rajasthan in a firing incident during Vasundhara Raje's time. Meenas and Gujjars had fought at the time. Namo Narain Meena was a minister already in UPA-1. This was UPA-2, and I said he would be minister again. So I said, if you make a Gujjar a minister it will at least quell the fight between Gujjars and Meenas. It was a psychological move. It would also make governance easier for me. I also got a call from Pilot asking me to recommend him for the minister post. I said 'I have spoken to them Sachin, and I have hopes, that everything will be fine.' I conveyed this to him. This is it.NDTV: So are you saying there are no personal differences between you? Then why has this become such a big issue now? Why has it become Pilot versus Gehlot? Ashok Gehlot: This even I don't know.NDTV: You would not accept that he has been marginalised by you?Ashok Gehlot: The question does not arise. NDTV: Are you saying that you are willing to make peace? Ashok Gehlot: Forget the issues between Pilot and me. Why is the media meddling in this?NDTV: Lastly, you seem confident that despite all this, Congress will perform, but Rajasthan has this repeating pattern. Ashok Gehlot: There is no pattern, we can break patterns. It looks like it will change this time, based on the response of the people. I think we would form the government.NDTV: Is there a risk that if Sachin Pilot is not made the CM, he will revolt again? Ashok Gehlot: You are asking hypothetical questions again. I don't answer hypothetical questions.NDTV: But you are a politician, and as a politician you look at the future and assess if there is any risk. Is this a risk? Do you think there could be issues again?Ashok Gehlot: All these are hypothetical questions. I have no response to them. Media should teach people to love each other, not to fight. NDTV: We are not making people fight; what was our role in what happened? Anyway, let's see. Thank you Ashok ji that you spoke to us. let's see what happens in the elections. Ashok Gehlot: Everything will be fine.
The Gujarat Maldhari Mahapanchayat, the umbrella body of cattle-rearers, has decided against voting for the BJP, emboldening Isudan Gadhvi, the chief minister face of the Aam Aadmi Party who is contesting from the Khambhaliya seat. “It should make you proud that the son of a maldhari is going to become the CM,” Gadhvi, who is pitted against Congress sitting MLA Vikram Madam, tells people during his campaigns. Incidentally, Khambhaliya is famed for its ‘valona’ or handchurned ghee. The AAP’s decision to field Gadhvi from Khambhaliya raised many eyebrows as the constituency has just 15,000 Gadhvi community votes while there are 55,000 Ahirs and 44,000 Satvaras. Gadhvi claims he has the support of the Ahir community. The burning issue of stray cattle menace, which has seen the state government drawing severe flak from the high court, has already riled the community, and Gadhvi is capitalizing on their anger. “If animals are found on the road, the government books maldharis under PASA and impounds their cattle. If the government can provide mining land to companies at cheap rates, why can’t they do the same for cattle-rearers to keep their animals,” he tells people. The BJP has fielded the former minister, Mulu Bera, who had lost the 2012 poll from the Jamnagar North seat. Khambhaliya is one of the two seats in Devbhumi Dwarka district where national security has been raked up by the BJP, after a massive razing drive on properties mostly belonging to Muslims was conducted in Bet Dwarka. PM Modi and home minister Amit Shah have heaped praises on CM Bhupendra Patel forthe daring decision to demolish the illegal structures, which police say were being used for anti-national activities. The BJP has fielded seven-time MLA Pabubha Manek from the Dwarka seat but the 40,000-strong minority community is likely to vent their anger against the demolition during voting. Manek also has tough competition from the AAP candidate, Lakhman Nakum, who belongs to the Satvara community with around 40,000 voters here, and Mulu Kandoriya of the Congress, who comes from the Ahir community, which has 57,000 voters. In adjoining Porbandar, once notorious for gang wars and arms smuggling, a familiar battle will be playing out between the Congress veteran Arjun Modhwadia and the BJP’s Babu Bokhiria. Modhwadia lost the 2012 and 2017 elections to Bokhiria. Interestingly, the AAP has fielded Jeevan Jungi, leader of the huge Kharwa (fishermen) community, who has been with the BJP and the Congress earlier. In Kutiyana, godmother Santokben Jadeja’s son Kandhal is seeking to stamp his authority by contesting on a Samajwadi Party (SP) ticket after being dropped by the NCP. The BJP has fielded Dheliben Odedara, also a Mer, and the president of Kutiyana municipality for the past 28 years. Odedara and Kandhal’s families have been at loggerheads for years now.
NEW DELHI: Patidars, the land holders and agrarian caste, account for over 12% of Gujarat's population and hold significant sway in the state's politics. In the 2017 Guujarat elections, the BJP saw its domination in Patidar-dominated seats dented. Of nearly 40 such seats, the BJP finished on top in 24; the Congress did not fare badly either- bagging 15. The Congress held an upper hand in Saurashtra, while the BJP fared better in and around the urban centres of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. Compare this to 2012, when BJP bagged 28 seats and Congress just 9. Point to be noted- The Congress had several factors going its way in 2017. The Patidar agitation seeking OBC status and reservation benefits, led by the firebrand Hardik Patel, helped sway some of the community votes away from the BJP. It is safe to assume that Patel's support for the Congress swayed a few Patidar seats for the party. But the grand old party might not have the same wind in its sail this time. Hardik Patel has since parted ways with the Congress, alleging being sidelined, and quit the party in May 2022. he formally joined the saffron party in early June. He will be contesting the 2022 election from Viramgam in Ahmedabad district as a BJP candidate. The patidar agitation too has lost steam, specially with the Supreme Court allowing 10% reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections. How will that, along with the Hardik Patel factor, reflect in the EVMs this time? The last Gujarat assembly had 44 Patidar MLAs. That could rise this time, with BJP, Congress and even new entrant AAP fielding several candidates from the communitiy.
Of the 560 candidates the BJP, the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) have fielded in the coming Assembly elections in Gujarat, only 40 are women. Seventeen of them are from the BJP, 14 from the Congress, seven are AAP nominees, and two of the AIMIM’s 14 candidates are women.Though more women are in the fray this time, compared to 22 in 2017 and 33 a decade ago, women still comprise a small percentage of the candidates of major parties BJP (9.4 per cent) and Congress (7.7 per cent). The two parties had reduced the number of women candidates in 2017 — the BJP from 19 women nominees to 12 and the Congress from 14 to 10 — compared to five years earlier. This was reflected in the decrease in the number of women legislators in the Assembly from 16 in 2012 to 13 in 2017. All 13 were from the Congress and the BJP.Despite their low number, the success rate of woman nominees from the BJP and the Congress remained high in the last Assembly election as 59 per cent of 22 woman candidates from the two parties won. In 2012, the success rate was 51 per cent.Gujarat Pradesh Mahila Congress president Jenny Thummar told The Indian Express, “I was expecting at least 35 tickets for women out of 182 total candidates from the Congress.”With “winnability” taking precedence and several other factors at play, Thummar said the number of women candidates was not at all justified by the parties.“A total of 92 women in their written requests had asked for tickets. But it depends on surveys, caste equations, and area equations based on which the decision is taken by the high command,” said Thummar, 39, who is the former president of the Amreli district panchayat and the wife of the Congress’s incumbent MLA from Lathi Virji Thummar.Meanwhile, the BJP initially fielded Jignaben Pandya from Wadhwan constituency in Surendranagar but just before the nomination process for the first phase closed last week, she was replaced with Jagdish Makwana.Even though the BJP has won Wadhwan since 1990, the party replaced its candidate at the last minute because of the party’s efforts to balance caste equations. Pandya is a Brahmin while Makwana is from the Dalwadi or Sathwara community that is categorised under Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The Sathwaras are found mainly in the districts of Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Surendranagar, and Junagadh.“The BJP has lost 13 seats where Dalwadis or the Sathwara community is dominant. In Surendranagar district alone, the community is a deciding factor in Wadhwan and Dhrangadhra,” said a BJP insider.BJP state vice-president Varshaben Doshi accompanied Pandya to the party headquarters in Gandhinagar as the former candidate submitted a letter declining to contest. She claimed gender was not an issue in this case. Doshi was the sitting MLA from Wadhwan when she was replaced by Dhanjibhai Patel (Makson) ahead of the contest five years ago.Defending the party, Doshi told The Indian Express, “There are several factors that come into play while deciding a candidate’s name. BJP is the party that not only gave tickets but appointed three of the nine (women) who won the elections in 2017 as ministers and Vidhan Sabha Speaker. Even in the organisation, appointing a woman as vice president is a big thing for a political party.”But Thummar accused the ruling party of not trusting its women workers even in “safe” constituencies. “The Congress is fighting to come to power but the BJP which is already in power could have taken a risk by fielding women candidates. It is very sad that on the safe seats in urban areas too they did not take the risk.”BJP state Mahila Morcha general secretary Veena Prajapati disagreed. “Whatever the party decides is good. There is 50 per cent reservation for women in urban local bodies and our women are content and happy,” she said.Disagreeing with Prajapati, Rajya Sabha MP Amee Yajnik, who has been fielded by the Congress from Ghatlodia against Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the AAP’s Vijay Patel, told The Indian Express, “Political parties look at the winnability factor of a candidate. Women empowerment in politics is very challenging. Though this has changed over the years, there should be more representation of women. especially in politics where they can be strong policymakers. There should be some kind of acceptability by society. Rather than thinking about why she is contesting, it should be, ‘why not?’ Society should be encouraging too.”
With Gujarat set to vote on December 1 and 5, campaigning is on and in full swing and to water-tight schedules, pushing up demand for charter aircraft and helicopters. Estimates from industry players show that at least 50% of the demand for charters is driven by political entities. Instead of flying scheduled flights like in the years past, most politicians now arrive by charter jets and use helicopters to fly within the state. A string of political heavyweights including PM Narendra Modi, Delhi CM and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi have arrived in Gujarat. Accordingly, the number of charter flights is expected to increase significantly. Sources said at least 400 chartered aircraft and helicopters flew as non-scheduled commercial flights from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport in Ahmedabad in the first fortnight of November. This figure has risen by a third, from 600-odd in all of October. “Last month, the Defence Expo coupled with corporate events drove chartered flight movements. This month, the majority of charters are for political leaders. A chartered aircraft is hired for at least five days a week by leaders for a minimum of fourhours,” said a senior official of an aviation firm based in Ahmedabad. This means if a party holds a charter aircraft even for a day, the costs incurred range from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 30 lakh. Interestingly, the sudden spurt in demand for chartered jets and helicopters in the past two years has led aviation leasing companies to look for new aircraft, as their inventory gets fully booked. “With such high demand, the inventory shortage which prevails globally is affecting local players too. We are thus looking to expand our fleet. Even if we order now, the aircraft will be delivered in a year or two. Many are looking at aftermarket aircraft purchases too. However, prices have risen by at least 40% there as well,” said an official of an aviation firm based here. Consequently, many political parties booked charters from Delhi or Mumbai. “Parties such as the Congress, BJP and AAP collectively have four or five aircraft on standby, for use as and when needed for travel to Gujarat for campaigning,” said a source privy to the developments.
The first assembly election held after the delimitation of constituencies in 2012 — which entailed redrawing constituency boundaries based on census — has shrunk the candidates’ hopes of winning elections by mammoth victory margins for decades to come. This, because delimitation alters the voter population and the social composition of seats. The 2007 assembly poll in Gujarat proved to be a landmark contest for two politicians, former Gujarat home minister and now the Union minister, Amit Shah, who fought from Sarkhej (Ahmedabad) constituency and Choryasi’s BJP candidate (Surat) and former state irrigation minister Narottam Patel. Patel won by a margin of 3. 47 lakh votes while Shah beat his nearest rival by 2. 36 lakh votes. This was possible because, in 2007, the Choryasi constituency had the highest voting population of 15. 94 lakh, while Sarkhej had 10. 26lakh voters. Read AlsoGujarat polls 2022 | Tickets: Highest number of women get seat on the triangular tableThe 2022 Gujarat assembly election will be historic for women, as a total of 38 women candidates have been fielded by the three major parties in the fray – BJP (17), Congress (14), and Aam Aadmi Party (7). In the last tripartite contest in 1990 — when JD (Gujarat) emerged as the third front — thereAfter the 2012 delimitation process, there are 172 constituencies at present where the voting population is less than Patel’s 2007 victory margin. However, even today, Choryasi seat boasts of the highest number of voters in the state at 5. 65 lakh, while Surat North has the lowest number of voters at 1. 63 lakh. The average number of voters in 182 seats of Gujarat is 2. 70 lakh. There areonly 10 constituencies where the number of eligible voters exceeds Patel’s 2007 victory margin. “In 2012, the Sarkhej constituency was dissolved and merged with nearby Ghatlodia and Daskroi constituencies to carve out the Vejalpur assembly seat. In the case of Choryasi seat, parts of the constituency were merged with the adjacent assembly seats. Even BJP’s Naroda MLA Maya Kodnani’s margin of 1. 8 lakh votes in 2007 is yet to be broken in that constituency,” reveals a senior BJP leader. The effect of redrawing boundaries was apparent on the Ghatlodia seat where, in 2012, the then chief minister Anandiben Patel won by a margin of 1. 1 lakh votes. In the 2017 poll, she vacated the seat for first-time MLA and close confidant Bhupendra Patel, who won by a margin of 1. 18 lakh votes and went on to become the chief minister last year. Notably, in the 2007 poll, former Gujarat home minister Amit Shah garnered a total of 4. 07 lakh votes and trounced his Congress rival Shashikant Patel by a huge margin. Similarly, in Choryasi, former state irrigation minister Narottam Patel got 5. 84 lakh votes and defeated Congress’s Janak Dhanani. After the 2007 assembly election, Gujarat saw assembly elections in 2012 and 2017. However, the records of the three BJP candidates — Amit Shah, Narottam Patel, and Mayaben Kodnani — who won with huge vote margins in 2007 have not been broken so far. This time, however, poll pundits say that there are chances that Kodnani’s 2007 victory margin could be breached on the Naroda seat if not Amit Shah’s or Narottam Patel’s winning margins that year.
