Maninagar, a part of chief minister Narendra Modi's constituency, is only naturally considered a BJP bastion. It is therefore being said that BJP candidates are likely to have a smooth ride in this area.
Maninagar, a part of chief minister Narendra Modi's constituency, is only naturally considered a BJP bastion. It is therefore being said that BJP candidates are likely to have a smooth ride in this area.
All the same, it appears that standing committee chairman Asit Vora will be the sole 'face' of the party in this ward, as the other two candidates, Keyur Parikh and Kalindi Patel, are not quite known to the masses here.
Patel has worked with social bodies such as Lioness Club in the past, but the corporation elections, it seems, are proving an entirely different ballgame altogether. While Vora and Parikh were seen energetically knocking on people's doors to interact with them, Patel was seen using her air-conditioned car during the campaign. She appeared low on energy and signs of exhaustion were quite visible on her face.
Asit Vora, on his part, got bouquets and brickbats in equal measure. While people came forward to garland him and wish him all the best for the upcoming elections, he was also subjected to severe criticism from certain residents.
Jayanti Patel, a resident of Pratiksha Apartment on Punitnagar Marg, refused to accept the booklet showcasing the work done by the BJP, from Vora. He greeted Vora with a sarcastic smile and commented, "We have been electing you for the past 15 years, but you are seen in the area only at intervals of five years." Vora just ignored Patel, saying he will talk to him later.
Patel later told DNA that roads have gone bad to worse in the ward, and that nobody pays any heed when attention is drawn towards civic issues.
Yet another Maninagar resident, from Vakilwadi Society, complained about the irregularity of sweepers and the menace of roadside food stalls. Regarding the selection of candidates though, resident Neelam Bhagat said that they know all their candidates, and that too personally.
Senior BJP worker DT Pandya said that he knew only Vora. "Vora greets us with respect, and ensures that our problems are solved. However, we know very little about the other two candidates," he said.
Asit Vora is trying to cash in on the development carried out in his ward and in the city. He distributed pamphlets and booklets speaking of his and the party's work. He said that there are around ten blocks in his ward. He covers two zones per day, while campaigning in the morning and evening.
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