Gujarat Elections 2017: Congress aims to bridge 9% vote gap with new allies

The Congress in Gujarat is banking on its star campaigner Rahul Gandhi and support from a clutch of caste leaders to bridge the around 9 % vote share gap that led the BJP to retain power in 2012.

However, the saffron party, which is in power in Gujarat for over two decades, is not only confident of retaining its 2012 base, but also expanding the vote share.

Gujarat will vote in two phases — on December 9 and 14 — to elect a new 182-member Assembly. The counting of votes will take place on December 18.

The Congress is hoping attendance at Gandhi’s rallies will translate into votes and it will get an extra push from new-found local allies — Patidar quota spearhead Hardik Patel, OBC leader Alpesh Thakor and Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani.

While Thakor has joined the Congress, Hardik Patel, who heads the Patidar Anamat Aandolan Samiti, has pledged his support to the main opposition party.

Mevani, who has positioned himself as the face of Dalit agitation in Gujarat, is contesting from Vadgam in North Gujarat as an independent. The Congress is supporting him by not fielding a candidate of its own.

On the other hand, the BJP is focussing on holding together its …read more