Sites of big fights: Contests to watch out for

Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, will play a crucial role in the 2019

Lok Sabha election

as the BJP pushes to retain power at the Centre. Gujarat is the only state after Rajasthan and Delhi where the BJP won all the Lok Sabha seats in 2014. The Congress, which registered a revival in the 2017 assembly election, aims to capitalize on rural distress and unemployment woes, especially in Saurashtra. The BJP — riding piggyback on Modi’s popularity — is confident of repeating its 2014 feat. The Congress has fielded many of its sitting MLAs while the BJP is pinning its hopes on sitting MPs and Congress turncoats. Here are some hot seats that might yield close battles.

AMRELI: In this Saurashtra seat, the Congress has fielded Paresh Dhanani, the leader of the opposition, against the BJP veteran Naran Kachhadia, a two-time MP and incumbent. In this primarily agrarian region, the diamond cutting and polishing business is the second largest employer. Kachhadia, who has been harping on Modi’s achievements, holds the distinction of being the MP who asked the highest number of questions in the Parliament. Dhanani, who is looking to stop Kachhadia’s third straight win, is highlighting farmers’ distress and the Congress’s promise to institute a separate farmers’ budget.

CHHOTA UDEPUR: A seat reserved for Scheduled Tribes, the Chhota Udepur Lok Sabha seat was carved out in 2008. Although the tribal population accounts for over 60% of voters, a number of areas fall in urban pockets. The BJP has fielded a local leader, Geeta Rathwa, who is contesting her first major election. She is pitted against the Congress’s Ranjit Rathwa, who holds sway over local dairy co-operatives. The BJP has won this seat twice since delimitation of 2009. The main Narmada canal passes through this area and problems such as migration are a major concern. The area houses the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue. Healthcare, employment, and water infrastructure are the Congress’s themes here. The Bharatiya Tribal Party has fielded Soma Vasava and his candidature could split Congress votes.

ANAND: In the land of Amul, tur dal king Mitesh Patel (Bakabhai) of the BJP is in for a tough battle as he is making his poll debut against the Congress veteran Bharatsinh Solanki, a two-time MP and former Union minister. Solanki, who is confident of wresting this seat from the BJP, recently said that if the Congress cannot win this Central Gujarat seat, it can’t win any of the 26 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The seat has traditionally been a Congress stronghold; the party has won it ten times while the BJP managed to win it in 1989, 1999, and 2014. OBCs account for over 50% of the electorate. Patidars, Kshatriyas, and minorities form the remainder of the voting population.

JUNAGADH: Sitting BJP MP Rajesh Chudasama is pitted against Congress strongman Punja Vansh, the sitting MLA of the Una assembly constituency. The region is known for kesar variety mangoes and Asiatic lions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held two public rallies in Junagadh over the past seven months. Although Junagadh received adequate rainfall, minimum support price for farmers is a key issue. The caste factor may play a role.

PATAN: Famous for its Patolas, the Patan constituency will stage a contest between the BJP’s Bharatsinh Dabhi and Congress strongman Jagdish Thakor. The last day of campaigning in Gujarat saw Modi addressing a rally in Patan which has an overwhelming population of Thakors. The Congress, which was confident of winning this seat, is likely to face a tough challenge after Alpesh Thakor — a prominent OBC face — quit the party earlier in April. While Thakor has not joined any party, his absence from the Congress could be an advantage for the BJP.