Congress leader Pravin Chheda joined BJP in presence of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday. Chheda was the last prominent Gujarati face in Congress party.
Congress leader Pravin Chheda joined BJP in presence of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday. Chheda was the last prominent Gujarati face in Congress party.
Pravin Chheda while talking to DNA said that the Congress party didn't gave him scope to develop and nurture the party cadre in Mumbai. Therefore, he decided to join his parent party.
In Mumbai, 18-20% of the total population is Gujarati. The several Mumbai city pockets such as Ghatkopar, Chheda Nagar in Chembur, Borivali, Dahisar, Kandivali, Malad, Mulnd, Vikroli are influenced by the Gujarati voters.
Moreover, there are two Gujarati MLA Yogesh Sagar and Prakash Mehta while one Member of parliament Kirit Somaiya are Gujarati elected on BJP ticket. And, 20 Gujarati corporators alone are from BJP while four are from Congress party in BMC. In the recent polls, Gujaratis are in block voting to BJP.
As a result, in 2017 BMC polls, the BJP won the 82 corporators from 32 in 2012 while Shiv Sena tally reduced from 84 in 2017 from 89 in 2012. On the other hand, Congress decimated on 31 corporator's in 2017 from 51 in 2012.
"Congress has not got the single prominent Gujarati face to attract the 18-to-20% population of the Mumbai city,” said political observer.
He further said that the Congress support base is eroding in every polls. “Earlier, North Indian used to vote majority number to Congress. Now, that populations are shifted towards the BJP. Today, Congress is facing the major existential crisis. It has no core voters left with it,” said observer.
According to the political observer, once the Congress was prominently represented by Gujarati leaders like Rajani Patel. “Rajani Patel was the president of Mumbai Congress unit and he had close relationship with Congress leader Indira Gandhi and Rajeev Gandhi. He was very influential Gujarati leader in Mumbai. We need Rajani Patel like leader today to take on BJP and Sena ,” said senior Congress leader requested anonymity.
Upendra Doshi, Mumbai Congress Gujarati Cell president said that he is trying to bring back the Gujarati voters in Congress fold. “Our community is mostly business community and they are not happy with Narendra Modi government. We lost the business in last four years. The congress regime was good for business community. We are having get together and groups meetings with our community leaders and people across the city,” Doshi said.
When asked why majority of Gujaratis are with BJP, Doshi candidly said that in the last 15 years of the Congress rule in state and 10 years in centre, “We could not inculcate the strong Gujarati leadership in Mumbai by giving major posts and ministerial post to them. Our community leaders were neglected in this period. Therefore, most of them deserted the party. Now, I appeal my leadership also if they come in power, they should pay special attentions towards Gujarati populations and its leaders as well,” Doshi added.
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 "Mumbai: Pravin Chheda leaves Congress to join BJP increasing saffron hold over Gujarati vote bank")
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