Veteran State ministers get poll duties in Gujarat, more names to be added

By Bhavana

Aparajita Shukla

The BJP is leaving no chance to repeat victory in election-bound Gujarat. Intense backroom planning and preparation to outreach door-to-door campaigns are underway. In this series, the saffron party has deployed four senior leaders and ministers from Madhya Pradesh to the poll-bound state.

Talking to ‘The Hitavada’, BJP Spokesperson Hitesh Vajpai has said “BJP is an ideal national party. It is known for its election management in the history of Indian politics. So far four leaders from the State are going to be a part of Gujarat elections. Very soon, more names will be added in this list of ministers and party leaders who will be in this neighbouring state.” To maintain the record of consecutive victories in Gujarat, four ministers of the State Government namely Dr Narottam Mishra, Arvind Bhadauria, Inder Singh Parmar and Vishwas Sarang have been deployed at the front. About one thousand workers from the State will go to Gujarat for the Gujarat Assembly elections, according to the party sources.

While about 100 officials and many workers are already present there. Along with these Assembly elections, the BJP is also eyeing the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Assembly elections are to be held in Gujarat in the last week of November or the first week of December. The BJP has already started preparations for these elections. Since there are elections in MP next year, many leaders here have been given the responsibility of election management in Gujarat and before practicing booth management in the state. In this sequence, the central organisation has given additional duty in the Gujarat Assembly elections to these four ministers. Apart from this, MP Gajendra Patel has also been engaged in the Gujarat elections.

The party used to call workers from other states in the Assembly elections, who have long experience of organisational work during elections in many states. These grassroots workers have expertise in strategising from social, economic and geographical aspects of a constituency.

Experts say that this time in Gujarat, Opposition parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party, are in talks to unite against the BJP. In such a situation, saffron party leaders are making hard efforts to combat effectively. According to highly placed sources in the party, a minister will be responsible for five to six assemblies. Dr Narottam Mishra has been given the responsibility of Bav, Ghanera, Deesa and Deodar assembly seats. Arvind Bhadauria will look after of Jambusar, Bagra, Jhaghadiya, Bharuch and Ankleshwar, Inder Singh Parmar to Matar, Nandiyad, Mehmabad, Mahudha, Thasra, Kamadganj. Minister Vishwas Sarang has been given the responsibility of Danta, Jhalod, Limkheda, Dahod, Garbara and Deogarh. Assemblies in and around Dahod will come under the supervision of MP Gajendra Patel.

Apart from this, the Central BJP organisation has also put ministers, national office-bearers of many states including Uttar Pradesh in the elections. Workers of MP have reached their respective assembly constituencies in Gujarat. There one Shakti Kendra has been set up at five booths. Meetings have also taken place everywhere. These workers will play the role of collaborator with local workers.

Madhya Pradesh BJP has also sent experienced workers for the Gujarat Assembly elections. The responsibility of co-ordination has been entrusted to MP BJP vice-president Jitu Jirati and former organisation minister Shyam Mahajan. The workers include former district president, former office bearer, former organisation minister.

The borders of Gujarat are connected with Malvanchal of Madhya Pradesh. In the tribal area, there are a large number of people with roti-beti (bread and family ties through weddings) relationship in both the states. This is the reason why the party has deployed MP leaders in different assembly constituencies of Gujarat.