Rediff projection: The north-south divide in Gandhinagar

Dahegam

BJP's choice of candidate throws away this constituency

Rating:  The Congress has an edge

BJP: Rohit Thakor  

Congress:  Kamini Rathod

Except for the 2010 by-election, Dahegam has been considered a Congress stronghold. But surprisingly BJP has not repeated sitting MLA and has instead chosen Rohit Thakor, who is believed to be an outsider. Though Thakor has tried hard to use money power, Congress candidate and Dahegam Palika President Kamini Rathod has a dynamic image. Congress' committed vote bank is an added advantage to her. Narhari Amin, a recent import to the BJP from Congress, will play a role here to help the BJP.  

Gandhinagar North

'Bofors' may change the game

Rating: BJP is ahead

BJP: Ashok Patel  

Congress:  Suresh Patel

It's a newly derived constituency in delimitation. Congress candidate and sitting MLA Suresh Patel has good influence over the voters of his old constituency, but is facing strong opposition within.

BJP has the same headache; its candidate Ashok Patel, who is known in the political circuit by his nickname Bofors, is facing internal insurgency. If 'Modi magic' works as per expectation, the aggression of Bofors may change the game.

Gandhinagar South

Rural voters will decide the ruler

Rating: Advantage Congress

BJP: Shambhuji Thakor   

Congress:  Jugaji Thakor

Biggest in the district, this constituency spreads over 75 villages. A majority of the rural voters are facing severe infrastructural issues. The sitting MLA's inactiveness makes him unwanted here. While Congress candidate keeps contact here since many years.

Kalol

Gujarat Parivartan Party may help the BJP

Rating: Slight advantage for BJP     

BJP: Dr Atul Patel  

Congress: Baldevji Thakor

BJP candidate Dr Atul Patel is contesting for the second time while the Congress candidate is believed to be an outsider. Moreover, the Gujarat Parivartan Party candidate too is a Thakor. It may divide Thakor votes (50,000) while BJP relies on the Patels (30,000), upper caste (17,000) and Dalits (23,000).

Modi or no Modi, Thakores of Gujarat vote for their caste candidates only.  

Maansa

Congress itself makes it tough

Rating: A defensive BJP has the advantage

BJP: D D Patel

Congress:  Amit Chaudhary  

It was a BJP stronghold but lost in the by-election. BJP has repeated its defeated candidate, while the Congress has changed its candidate. Though, Amit Chaudhary's father Haribhai is a big player, Amit himself is not. The exit of local leaders like Ishwarsinh Chavda from the Congress can help the BJP make a comeback in the constituency. 

This is BJP strongman Amit Shah's native place.

Other rediff projections: Saurashtra | Vadodara | Banaskantha | Patan | Sabarkantha | Mehsana

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