Burying Morbi

The BJP is likely to improve its tally in Saurashtra, despite anti-incumbency and the Morbi bridge tragedy

- NANDINI OZA

Giant LED screens at Sardar Chowk in Morbi beam public meetings of Kantilal Amrutiya, the BJP candidate from the Morbi constituency. Frame after frame showcases the high points of his public life, including his interventions from the 1979 Machchhu dam tragedy, the 2001 earthquake and the Covid-19 pandemic. Desert coolers keep the temperature pleasant while caterers serve party workers and guests. In a makeshift room, Amrutiya discusses poll strategy with his supporters, and leaders representing the paper and ceramic industries. He is reluctant to give an interview as he does not want to speak about the recent bridge collapse. After much cajoling, he agrees to an interview on condition that no questions will be asked about the tragedy.

Amrutiya, 60, is pitted against Jayanti Patel of the Congress and Pankaj Ransariya of the AAP. Choosing Amrutiya, a former MLA from Morbi, over Brijesh Mareja, the sitting Congress MLA who switched sides, is seen as a BJP masterstroke.

But explaining the bridge collapse which happened on October 30 in which 135 people, including more than 50 children, died could prove to be a challenge. Amrutiya reached the accident spot within minutes and even jumped into the river to help the victims. While his efforts were much appreciated, he does not speak about the tragedy while campaigning, as he knows that it could hurt his chances.