Candidates of small parties worry BJP, Cong
Candidates nominated by smaller parties like Maha Gujarat Janta Party (MJP), NCP, SP and BSP are giving sleepless nights to leaders of the BJP and the Congress, as they may spoil the chances of major parties.
In six parliamentary constituencies, candidates of smaller parties would ensure that the contest would be tripartite, which would affect the prospects of either the BJP or the Congress.
There are a total number of 359 candidates in the fray for 29 Lok Sabha seats in the state, which would go for voting on April 30.
Seats, where contest is likely to be tripartite are Bhavnagar, Surat, Patan, Mehsana and Ahmedabad East, Bharuch and Surendranagar.
In Bhavnagar, the BJP and the Congress have fielded Kshatriya candidate, where former BJP rebel and president of Maha Gujarat Janta Party (MJP) Gordhan Zadafia is also in the fray.
Zadafia is likely to cut into BJP votes, as he belongs to Patel community, which is electorally dominant community in the constituency.
Patels are considered to be a traditional vote bank of BJP and if Zadafia manages to split it, it would affect the chances of BJP's Rejendrasinh Rana, who is seeking fifth term from here.
"This time, results of the Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat will surprise all," said Zadafia.
"Zadafia will help Congress as he would eat into BJP votes," added Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil.
In Patan, the BJP has fielded former Congress MLA Bhavsinh Rathor to contest against Dehgam MLA and the Congress candidate Jagdish Thakor. Both of them belong to Thakor community, which forms the largest group in the population of the constituency. Here also, MJP has fielded locally powerful candidate N P Patel, who is a local industrialist.
Patel is likely to corner Patel's votes, which may affect BJP chances as Thakor votes is likely to split between BJP and Congress, while minorities and other OBC castes may support the Congress.
To contain the damage, BJP has asked Patan MLA and state Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel and state BJP general secretary Jayantibhai Barot to ensure the Patels votes.
In Surat also, BJP's Darshna Jardosh is facing two strong candidates Fakir Chauhan of MJP and Dhiru Gajera of Congress.
Interestingly, all the three candidates have roots in BJP. Both Gajera and Chauhan had left the BJP ahead of last assembly polls.