‘State will play a crucial role in polls’.

When it comes to fighting difficult battles, the saffron brigade has always chosen to fall back on its most trusted battleground. So, as the BJP gears up for the Lok Sabha polls next year, Gujarat is set to play an important role.

So much so that BJP’s prime ministerial candidate LK Advani hopes to continue his dream run with this western state, often referred to as the Hindutva laboratory. In an exclusive interview to Business Standard, Narendra Modi, chief minister of Gujarat and a close Advani aide, said, “The next PM will be from Gujarat. Advaniji will contest the coming Lok Sabha from Gandhinagar.”

It may be recalled that BJP had fared very badly in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections as it ended up getting only 14 of the 26 seats—down from its tally of 22 in 1999.

“This time around it will be different. Gujarat will shine in the coming elections and will put up a great show,” said Modi, who is set to play a vital role in the coming polls.

Advani had won from Gandhinagar with a thumping majority of over 2 lakh votes in the previous polls.

The announcement comes amid speculations in the wake of new delimitation that Advani may not contest from Gujarat this time around. Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar have been bifurcated into three constituencies namely Gandhinagar, Western Ahmedabad and Eastern Ahmedabad.

As per the new delimitation, Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat includes assembly segments such as Kalol, Sanand, Ghatlodia, Vejalpur, Naranpura and Sabarmati. These segments are considered to be traditional BJP bastions—the party has a fared well in these areas in the 2007 assembly elections.

It has been debated that three MPs including Advani—the others being union textiles minister Shankersinh Vaghela and BJP MP Ratilal Varma— would face problems after the constituencies were redefined. Varma, who represents Dhandhuka constituency was a SC seat (now it’s an open seat) while Vaghela’s stronghold Kapadwanj seat has been bifurcated into two seats. Congress sources say Vaghela may fight from Panchamahals this time around.

Similarly, BJP’s sitting MP and former union minister Harin Pathak will be forced to contest from the eastern Ahmedabad seat, where he has already started the preliminary groundwork.

Source: business-standard