More articles by

Nandini Oza
Nandini Oza

GUJARAT

Is Modi playing victim card after first phase of polls?

PTI12_10_2017_000087A Prime Minister Narendra Modi being presented a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel by the BJP workers during an election campaign rally in Sanand | PTI

Even as the campaign for the second phase of elections in Gujarat got uglier with Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging Pakistan's hand in state elections, the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress have begun a covert exercise to analyse the polling figures of the first phase. 

An average of 68 per cent polling has been reported in 89 seats spread over 19 districts on Saturday. This is 3.32 per cent less than the average polling of two phases of election in 2012. 

At a rally in North Gujarat on Sunday, Modi alleged that former director general of Pakistan Army, Arshad Rafique was backing and willing to make Ahmed Patel the chief minister  of Gujarat.

Normally, a high voter turnout is considered as the evidence of anti-incumbency wave. However, the results of the last couple of elections in Gujarat indicate that a high voter turnout has been in favor of the ruling party. However, sources said that the BJP camp looked a bit worried this time. Albeit, on the face of it, its leaders said that the BJP was winning.

While Modi has been bringing references of Ahmed Patel and Pakistan leaders, BJP's national president Amit Shah held meetings with party leaders and workers till the wee hours of Sunday. The Congress has denied any meeting of Mani Shankar Aiyar and former vice president Hamid Ansari with Pakistan high commissioner. Modi alleged that such a meeting took place. 

According to sources, after the polling got over for the first phase of elections, Shah summoned his party leaders. A couple of meetings were also held at his residence in Ahmedabad. Though not confirmed, sources said that he is reported to have instructed party leaders to ensure a good turnout during second phase of polling on December 14. 

Even at a safe bastion like Vadodara, which also influences its nearby seats, the prime minister brought the references of alleged meeting of Aiyar with Pakistani high commissioner. His speeches are seen as an attempt to polarise the votes. In the past too, Modi had evoked former Pakistan president General Pervez Mushrraf's name by calling him “Miyan Mushrraf”. 

A theory has started floating that the prime minister is playing a victim card to enthuse voters in an attempt to garner support for the ruling party. The BJP has been in power for the last 22 years and is faced with anti-incumbency, rejuvenated Congress and three young leaders—Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakore and Jignesh Mevani.

Though exit polls have been barred till the polling of second phase of election is over, informal exit polls have started doing rounds on the social media. If these polls are anything to go by, the Congress has fared considerably well in Saurashtra, Kutch and South Gujarat regions as compared to 2012. 

Congress sources claimed that though the party leaders have not got time to analyse the polling as they are busy campaigning, reports they have got from the assembly segments indicated a positive trend in favour of the party.

This browser settings will not support to add bookmarks programmatically. Please press Ctrl+D or change settings to bookmark this page.

Related Reading