UNSTOPPABLE MARCH

Modi magic dispels all obstacles in his path to win his home state in spectacular style

- BY NANDINI OZA

SHREE KAMALAM IN Gandhinagar is the headquarters of the BJP in Gujarat. Old-timers here reflect the party's hardy nature. One of them, Vaghji Desai, at age 65 rides his bicycle 19km from his home in Ahmedabad to be at Shree Kamalam. He is a facilitator of many activities here.

Vaghji had gone on a padyatra led by Shankersinh Vaghela in the 1990s. After Vaghela left the BJP and became chief minister, Vaghji stood in a queue to meet him.

Spotting him in the queue, Vaghela sent a security officer to fetch him. "Vaghji, you don't have to stand in a queue. What is the work to be done?" Vaghela asked him. Vaghji said he had come carrying a transfer request by a BJP worker's daughter. "Do it if you wish," he said. "But let me tell you that I am still in the BJP!"

One would find the same spirit in Ambalal Koshti, who had spotted a young Narendra Modi and enrolled him in the party. He, too, is a regular at Shree Kamalam and takes up tasks on his own. Though a humble party worker, he makes himself heard, whether the leaders agree with him or not.

People like Vaghji and Ambalal have seen the party grow from one seat in the assembly in 1967 elections to 156 seats in the latest election in 2022, and one Lok Sabha seat in 1984 to all 26 seats in 2017. As elsewhere, the RSS played a pivotal role in the growth.

Except for a year and a half when Vaghela and Dilip Parikh rebelled and ruled, the BJP has retained power in Gujarat since 1995. Neither the earthquake of 2001 nor the Patidar agitation of 2017 could shake it down. The riots of 2002, in fact, strengthened it and polarised the people.

EXCEPT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF WHEN VAGHELA AND DILIP PARIKH REBELLED AND RULED, THE BJP HAS RETAINED POWER IN GUJARAT SINCE 1995. NEITHER THE EARTHQUAKE OF 2001 NOR THE PATIDAR AGITATION OF 2017 COULD SHAKE IT DOWN.