‘Modi’s no-repeat formula can backfire’

In the first murmurings of discontent against the process of candidates’ selection, BJP MP from Dhandhuka, Ratilal Varma has said fielding only the new faces for forthcoming Lok Sabha polls may backfire for the party and send a wrong signal to the supporters.

Varma said factors, like caste and community, that worked during assembly elections might not work in the Lok Sabha polls. “Bringing in all new faces in the name of including youth will not get the party the desired results in the elections. Only (chief minister) Narendra Modi thinks on such lines, people sitting in Delhi think differently.”

Modi employed the ‘no-repeat’ formula in the December 2007 assembly polls to counter the anti-incumbency factor and brought in fresh candidates on about 45 of the 182 seats.

The BJP has said winnability would be the main consideration for giving the party ticket.  Sources say the BJP will bring in new faces for majority of the Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat. Party general secretary Vijay Rupani has said the party is considering names of women and young candidates with an untarnished record.

Varma, whose seat has ceased to exist after the latest delimitation exercise, is pitching for the Ahmedabad (West) seat. “It is my home and I have a large support base of two lakh Dalit voters in the constituency. I have conveyed my feelings to the leaders here and also in Delhi that if I am not fielded, we will lose the seat. The Delhi parliamentary committee wants me, but the Gujarat leaders are opposed to my candidature,” he said.
State BJP spokesperson IK Jadeja declined to comment on Varma’s allegations. “What Varma has said are his views and I would not like to comment on that. All I will say is that the party will consider every aspect of the matter before deciding on the candidates,” he said.

On whether he thought the ticket distribution system ignored merit, Varma said, “Yes, it is based on factors other than merit. Modi should not give tickets to his favourites.

Those who have been loyal and worked to build the party’s base in the state should not be ignored.” He said the other MPs too felt the same way. “Leaders like Dilip Sanghani and Jaisinh Chauhan lost the Lok Sabha polls but were fielded in assembly elections and made ministers.”

Crediting himself with strengthening BJP’s base among the Dalits in Gujarat, Varma said, “I joined the party when it had no base among the Dalits. Modi should not deny tickets to those who have worked for the party for long.”  He, however, added that if he was denied the party ticket, he would not go against the party. “I am a loyal soldier of the party and can’t go against it. But the party will suffer if the Gujarat leaders are allowed to have their way and so I feel compelled to speak out.”

Sitting Ahmedabad MP Harin Pathak, however, did not join issue with Varma. “I was among the founding members of the party and have been with it for 42 years. I am a loyal and obedient soldier of the party and whatever decision the party takes, I will abide by it.”

The CM has been made poll in-charge for the western region, including Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa. This is first major poll assignment for Modi since his emergence on the national scene and problems at home are the last thing he would be hoping for.

He has been given virtually complete authority to decide the party candidates in Gujarat and insiders say Varma, a six-time MP, is not likely to be repeated. According to sources, the BJP is unlikely to repeat most of its sitting MPs. The party is yet to declare candidates for 25 Lok Sabha seats, having announced leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha LK Advani’s name from Gandhinagar.