Will Chak de do it for the Congress in the Narendra Modi-ruled Gujarat in the Assembly polls next month?
This has been a major debating point in the state known as BJP's Hindutva laboratory amid signals that 2007 is not 2002. The Congress, out of power for 17 years, hopes to recreate the magic of the Shahrukh Khan- starrer Chak de at the ballot.
The opposition party is relying on 'Chak De Congress' stickers to spread its message and it has virtually become a mantra for the party.
AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh, who recently visited the central Gujarat region, a saffron stronghold of which Godhra is also a part said that the chief minister has become an issue because of his ''arrogance''.
He feels that Modi's support base is primarily in the urban middle class. Seeking to cash in on the Chak De popularity, the Congress has adopted it as its main election slogan with its campaign vehicles bearing the message Chak de Gujarat- Chak de Congress'.
The party has also parodied the title song of the film, which it plans to play at its public meetings in the run-up to the elections.
The party has decided to give a Toyota Innova to each of its 200 block presidents and some other leaders with an aim to boost its campaign in the tough battle against Narendra Modi. The assembly elections are scheduled in Guajarat on December 11 and 16.
