Porbandar heavyweights face off again, development, anti-corruption in play

“As long as Arjunbhai and I remain active in politics, it seems we are destined to stand face-to-face…that’s how deep our love is for each other,” quips sitting Porbandar MLA Babu Bokhiria of the BJP, as supporters seated around him at the local party office laugh in agreement.

The contest for Porbandar between heavyweight candidates fielded by the BJP and the Congress is one that is all-too familiar for the voters here.  Former GPCC president Arjun Modhwadia is, for the third time, pitted against his old foe Bokhiria, who is the state minister for animal husbandry and fisheries.

While Modhwadia won the seat in 2002 by defeating Bokhiria, and was re-elected in 2007, his bid to win a third consecutive term failed when Bokhiria defeated him by around 17,000 votes in the last election.

Bokhiria claims he hopes to get re-elected on the basis of “major development works” carried out during his tenure, and speaks of the introduction of the Amul pattern of milk cooperatives to Porbandar with the formation of the Sudama Dairy, a cow sanctuary that is being developed at Dharampur, improved drinking water supply and irrigation in his constituency, and tenders for sand-dredging floated to address the concerns of fishermen. He also cites plans of developing eight new harbours and 19 landing centres.

Modhwadia, on the other hand, is campaigning primarily on the anti-corruption plank, launching scathing attacks against Bokhiria and focusing on the criminal case that was registered against his rival for illegal limestone mining.  

The case was registered in 2006, when one Umesh Bhavsar, a manager of Saurashtra Chemical Company, filed a complaint against Bokhiria and others, alleging they had illegally mined limestone worth Rs 54 crore from land where the company held mining rights.  In June 2013, Bokhiria and three others were convicted for three years by the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court. The Porbandar Sessions Court stayed their conviction till it heard Bokhiria’s appeal.  In November 2014, the Sessions Court overturned the conviction and acquitted him.

“The biggest issue I am raising before voters is that of corruption. The rival candidate is part of the mining mafia, and was even sentenced to a jail term of three years,” Modhwadia alleged, while speaking to DNA.

“Over these five years, only new pipelines have been laid, but roads in the city are now lying in atrocious condition. Meanwhile, farmers are suffering because MSP has not been hiked. No new new industries have come to Porbandar, and even the existing ones shut down during the BJP government’s tenure. Benefits granted to fishermen under the Congress government were withdrawn.  Education and health has been completely commercialized. There are no opportunities at all here. Youngsters have to go elsewhere for education and employment,” he added.

Bokhiria, however, accused his Congress rival of running a negative campaign. “When you do not have any work to show of your own, you end up running a negative campaignMy work towards development of Porbandar speaks for itself.”

Many local voters, however, said that while Modhwadia may seem to be a 'cleaner’ and 'better’ candidate compared to Bokhiria, people would be wary of voting for him if they feel the BJP will retain power in the state and Centre.

“BJP is in power at the Centre, and if they retain power in the state, how will a Congress MLA be able to get our demands met?” said Vijay Bhayanim, owner of a stationary shop at Sudama Chowk market area.

“People here will cast their votes keeping in mind Narendra Modi. We did suffer a bit due to GST, but things have stabilized now as we are getting familiar with the tax,” said Hitesh Bhatijia, a general store owner.