BJP ropes in 100 Gujju leaders for Gujarat polls

Mumbai: To make sure no stone is unturned in winning the forthcoming Gujarat assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to assign over 100 BJP corporators, MLAs and other leaders from the Mumbai to canvass aggressively across Gujarat. 

In the 84-member BJP party in the BMC, Gujarati community has a strong presence with 24 corporators. During the civic polls held early this year, the community stood behind the party like a rock, as large chunks of BJP seats came from the Gujarati-dominated areas.

“The party feels that these corporators can play a vital role in the Gujarat assembly polls. Many of them have their roots in Gujarat. All of them have been assigned a particular area in the state,” said a senior party official.

According to party sources, MLAs like Prakash Mehta, Raj Purohit and Yogesh Sagar have been allotted areas like Una, Surat and Bhavnagar respectively to concentrate on in the polls. Senior corporators like Manoj Kotak, Jagdish Ojha and Prakash Gangadhare have been given Bhavnagar, Wankaner and Navsari areas to campaign.

Mr Kotak said, “Without disturbing the BMC house proceedings, we will stay put in Gujarat during the polls to canvass for the party. We will be engaged in door to door campaign.” 

“Apart from direct campaigning, there are many important aspects like devising poll strategy, booth management, election supervision etc. ,” said a senior leader. 

Mr Gangadhare said, “I will also be interacting with Marathi speaking people living in Navsari.” The Gujarat polls will be held on December 9 and 14, while the results will be announced on December 18.