Saffron wave may continue

LOK SABHA CONSTITUENCY WATCH/GODHRA

Godhra, which has become famous for the Sabarmati Express tragedy and the subsequent communal riots in the state, has been under the influence of the saffron brigade for some time.

The Godhra incident and its aftermath in end-February and early-March 2002, was one of the chief reasons for the clean sweep by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state Assembly elections in December 2002.

The Hindutva wave is likely to continue to flow in the district in the Lok Sabha elections as Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Haresh Bhatt represents the Godhra Assembly constituency.

From Godhra, the Congress has nominated Rajendrasinh Patel and the BJP has fielded sitting Member of Parliament Bhupendrasinh Solanki. Both the candidates have a long experience in politics "" in the cooperatives, panchayats and the Assembly.

Incidentally, Patel had lost to Bhatt in the recent Assembly polls by a big margin.

The Godhra Parliamentary constituency comprises seven Assembly segments "" Rajgadh, Halol, Kalol, Godhra, Sehra, Lunavada and Balasinor. All the Assembly seats were won by BJP candidates by huge margins in December 2002.

In the last five Lok Sabha polls, the Congress and the BJP have won in the constituency twice. The seat was once won by the Janata Dal (VP Singh) candidate.

In 1989, the BJP and the JD contested jointly from the seat and their candidate Shantilal Patel defeated the Congress' Prabhatsinh Chauhan by 60373 votes. Patel got 55.87 per cent votes while Chauhan bagged 41.17 per cent votes.

In 1991, sitting MP Shantilal Patel contested from late chief minister Chimanlal Patel's party, JD (Gujarat). He, however, lost to the BJP's Shankersinh Vaghela by over a lakh votes.

In 1996, Patel stood on a Congress ticket and defeated the BJP's Sumanbhai Bhabhor by 48123 votes. Patel got 47.71 per cent votes against Bhabhor's 34.84 per cent votes.

In 1998, Patel defeated the BJP's Gopalsinh Solanki by over 40 thousand votes. Patel got 34.47 per cent votes while Solanki secured 27.71 per cent votes.

In 1999, sitting MP Shantilal Patel was defeated by Bhupendrasinh Solanki by a margin of over a lakh votes. Solanki got 59.32 per cent of votes while Patel bagged 39.24 percent votes.

All the municipal bodies and panchayats under the Godhra constituency are controlled by the BJP.