Numerically-strong Patel community, having around 18 per cent population in the state, has rallied behind BJP in the last two decades, giving the party the edge over its opponents but this time they are divided on the lines of their sub-castes --Leuva and Kadvas.
The Leuva sub-caste, which 83-year-old Keshubhai Patel, represents, has in the run up to the elections at regular intervals organised huge caste meetings to assert their voice as they allege they have been marginalised in last 10 years of Modi rule.
"The question is to which political party this powerful sub-caste will lend its support?. Will they stay with BJP or will they go to GPP?", said political scientist Dinesh Shukla.
Out of 182 seats in the state assembly, Saurashtra region consists of 54 seats spread across 7 districts of Bhavnagar, Amreli, Junagadh, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Surendranagar and Rajkot. So, it is always said that whichever party dominates in Saurashtra rules the state, he added.
In the past two assembly elections, BJP under Modi has made Saurashtra a bastion for the party. BJP had won 39 seats in 2002 and in 2007 despite a sulking Keshubhai staying away from the campaign, the party had won an overwhelming 43 seats here. (more)
