With less than a week left for the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections to commence, the BJP looks confident in its bastion Ahmedabad East. For three decades the saffron party has held the seat; even after constituency was split into Ahmedabad East and Ahmedabad West, the party continued its winning streak.
Meanwhile the Congress is struggling in urban Gujarat and have pinned their hopes on a new face in Ahmedabad East, their only woman candidate, Geeta Patel. Geeta will take on another Patidar candidate from the BJP, HS Patel, who is contesting the elections for the first time as well.
Geeta Patel is a member of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and a close aide of Hardik Patel. In the 2014 elections Bollywood actor Paresh Rawal comfortably won the Ahmedabad East seat on a BJP ticket.
‘Paresh Rawal’s Lack of Involvement’
Geeta Patel is campaigning against Paresh Rawal’s lacklustre inning as MP of Ahmedabad East, but is it enough to uproot the BJP in Ahmedabad?
Incidentally, local BJP cadre were against Rawal’s nomination from the seat and the actor later backed out of the race, claiming that he will always be a vocal supporter of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“After winning the 2014 elections, Paresh Rawal has only visited his constituency once. Apart from that 95 percent of the grants issued to him as MP of Ahmedabad (East) meant for developmental work in the constituency were rejected. Therefore, even today you can see a glaring disparity between Ahmedabad east and west.”Geeta Patel, Congress Candidate from Ahmedabad (East)
The city is divided by Sabarmati River, and Ahmedabad (West) does have better infrastructure and wider roads than Ahmedabad (East) which is home to the old walled city – India’s first UNESCO World Heritage city.
“Every time he (Rawal) would send a representative to address the people of Ahmedabad East for votes. Meanwhile I am a local residing in Ahmedabad (East) and I am seeing a lot of love and affection coming my way, because I am here not only to address their issues but also find a solution to it,” the Congress candidate said.
The Patidar Reservation Movement
The Quint joined Geeta Patel on her campaign trail in the adjoining villages in Chandkheda, Ahmedabad. At Nava Koba Gam, Patel made a customary visit to the village temple where the villagers and local level politicians welcomed the PAAS leader with garlands.
However, no speeches were made at Nava Koba Gam or any of the other villages as Geeta Patel’s campaign was short. Patel’s USP is the Patidar agitation, and how BJP-ruled state government tried to suppress the movement across the state.
“HS Patel’s name was declared at the eleventh hour by the BJP and now we have a face off within the community. However, back in 2015 when the Patidar reservation movement peaked, not a single Patel leader from the ruling BJP stood in support of the community. In fact, 14 Patidar youths were killed in police firing. So many cases were filed against Patidar youths and not a single BJP leader came to their aid and the cases weren’t withdrawn either. Promises were made by the government that the kin of those killed in the violence will get government jobs, but none landed any.”Geeta Patel, Congress Candidate from Ahmedabad (East)
She further added, “I have been part of the Patidar movement since its inception. The people of my community are glad that someone who was part of the reservation movement will contest the Lok Sabha elections and I am sure I will get their votes.”
Bringing Diverse Communities Together
Ahmedabad (East) is not only home to Patidars but also to Rabaris, Bharwads, Thakors and other Kshatriya and OBC communities. Geeta Patel believes that she has a connection with these communities as well and can help them with their issues.
“The Maldharis (Rabaris) are pestered by the local body in the city and the cattle is often confiscated by the administration. Minority groups and Dalits are also ignored by the government. Even the wealthy Sindhi community in the city and the state are still reeling from the after-effects of demonetisation and GST.”Geeta Patel, Congress Candidate from Ahmedabad (East)
“I have the full support of all these communities. I have held meetings with the community leaders and they have assured me that if I fight for them they will fight for me and ensure that I reach the Parliament,” she said
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