It's nine in the evening and 70-year-old Congress nominee from Maninagar, Dinsha Patel has just returned from 12-hour-long campaigning in the constituency.
AHMEDABAD: It's nine in the evening and 70-year-old Congress nominee from Maninagar, Dinsha Patel has just returned from 12-hour-long campaigning in the constituency.
If he is tired, it doesn't show when he is talking about Sardar Patel, Gandhi bapu, Congress and his upcoming electoral battle in Maningar against Modi.
"Nothing is impossible. Except falling prey to the Hindutva wave in 2002, I have not lost a single election. People's response is very good and we are confident of victory," says the veteran politician, whose experience is pronounced in his eyes and the deep lines on his face as he smiles contentedly.
The man who comes from the land of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel claims he is embarrassed when compared to the Iron Man. Insinuated at his adversary Modi's fascination of projecting himself as chhote Sardar, he said, "I have grown up playing in Vallabhbhai's house. Politicians should not compare themselves with Sardar, none of us is even close to him in his stature, knowledge, vision and achievements."
This politician with a difference believes in true Gandhian values, Sardar's vision - simple living and high thinking. "I rejected a lucrative offer to go to the US in 1972 when most of my family migrated for El Dorado from Nadiad.
I wanted to serve my land, my country. I still believe in the power of democracy, truth and non-violence. I do not ask people to vote for me, I only ask them to exercise their fundamental right of casting their vote," he said.
And true to this rather implausible claim 13 days before poll date, Congress workers in the region are asked to reach out to people primarily to encourage them to come out and vote.
"The sentiment is certainly positive in the area for us. There is indeed an anti-incumbency factor. People stand up and greet me wherever I go.
Even a shopkeeper during business hours spends 15 minutes talking to me. This is a very positive sign. If enough people come out and vote, we are certain of victory." Modi, he claims, has been banking heavily on Hindi-speaking communities' votes besides Patels.
Dinsha is confident of bagging most of the 40,000 Patel votes, 12,000 Muslim votes, around 11,000 Christian votes and a good chunk of 26,000 Brahmin votes - provided people come out to vote. He has started touring the residential colonies and commercial areas. Around seven autos started rounding up the area with 'Vote for Congress' slogans
Though in active politics for nearly four decades now, he is a relatively unknown face in Maninagar constituency, but he is fast catching up.
Now that his face is pasted at all corners and crossroads, he is focused only on strategising his victory combination. The apparently exhausted leader hesitantly ends the interview, only to go to another party meeting - for some more strategising.
s_jumana@dnaindia.net
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