Guj BJP in poll mode after shock local body polls defeat

With over a year-and-half left for the Assembly elections in Gujarat, ruling BJP has started preparation in the home turf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi where it had received a jolt in last year's rural local bodies polls from Congress.
New chief of state BJP unit Vijay Rupani has taken the task to reinvigorate the party after the shock loss, while the state government, headed by Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, has also announced a slew of measures to woo rural voters, latest being implementation of National Food Security Act re-christening it as Maa Annanpurna Yojna.
The previous state Assembly election was held in December 2012 under the leadership of then chief minister Narendra Modi, while the next is likely to take place during the same time in 2017.

This time BJP will be fighting elections under leadership of Patel.
In the large scale local bodies polls held in December 2015, BJP received a jolt where opposition Congress won most of the district and taluka panchayats elections after a gap of 12 years. However, BJP secured wins in urban pockets.
Rupani after taking charge as new state BJP president on February 19 had stated that their goal is to win the 2017 elections.

After taking over the office, Rupani, with a focus on 2017 polls, has reconstructed the organisation team and also chalked out aggressive public programmes to reach out to people.

"At the same time we have also held various public
programmes like organising eight farmers' rallies, Bharat Mata rallies at 18 locations in different parts of the state and other public programmes to take the message of work done by the central and state government to the people," he said.
"This will be a continuous process from now on till the elections and will keep on giving one after another programme," added Patel.
Among the issues that BJP dispensation has been facing are Patel quota agitation and rural distress due to poor monsoon in the last two years.
The numerically strong Patel community in the state, especially the youths of the community, under the aegis of Hardik Patel, which is up in arms against the government for "crushing their movement and charging its key leaders with sedition".

Though the government has opened negotiation with Patel in jail, so far it seems they are yet to make any headway as the Anandiben Patel-led government has not made its stand clear on the 27 demands put forth by the agitators.
Issues related to rural distress and handling of water scarcity situation so far has also caused resentment among villagers.
The recent charges of corruption involving Anandiben's daughter Anar Patel, has also increased difficulties for the Chief Minister.
The party, however, hopes to overcome these challenges by their aggressive campaign and detailed preparation.
During his visit on April 9, BJP chief Amit Shah told party workers in Gandhingar to shed of disappointment of local body poll loss and the situation created due to Patel quota agitation, and focus on winning the 2017 polls.

"The 2012 win in Gujarat was the stepping stone for 2014 Lok Sabha win and in the same way 2017 victory will pave the way for win in 2019 national elections," Shah had said.