This constituency is likely to see a battle as the dynamics of the seat are both favourable and unfavourable for them at the same time.
This coastal parliamentary constituency is likely to see a close battle between the Congress and the BJP as the dynamics of the seat are both favourable and unfavourable for them at the same time.
The BJP has been winning the seat in the past five elections, but it won the seat in 2004 with the lowest margin percentage. In 2004, the total voter turnout was 49.29%, of which BJP candidate Harilal Patel got 46.71% and Congress candidate Vitthal Radadia got 45.55%. This means that the BJP won by a slender margin of 1.16%.
After the latest delimitation, out of seven assembly seats included in the constituency, three each are with the BJP (Jetpur, Kutiyana and Keshod), and the Congress (Dhoraji, Porbandar and Manavadar) while one is with the NCP (Gondal).
The Porbandar municipality, district panchayat and all 15 seats of taluka panchayats are with the BJP, giving it an edge.
The Congress has fielded the sitting MLA of Dhoraji, Vitthal Radadia, as its candidate while the BJP has chosen the little-known Leuva Patel, Mansukh Khacharia. The latter has not fought any election in his political career so far.
He is not holding any senior position in the party — he is former vice-president of Rajkot district BJP and former president of Jetpur taluka BJP. However, he is financially well-off. He is, at present, president of Jetpur Dyeing and Printing Association. He also runs a ginning factory and some education institutions. His inexperience, his being a new face, and his Leuva Patel tag can be his advantage against Radadia.
The constituency is dominated by Leuva Patels (around 15.16%), Mers (11%) and Ahirs (10%). Both Radadia and Khacharia belong to Leuva Patel community. The BJP chose not to repeat its sitting MP, Harilal Patel, as he belongs to Kadva Patel community (Kadva Patels around 8.84%)) and his winnability was also at stake. Arjun Modhwadia of the Congress and BJP’s three-time Kutiyana MLA Karsan Odedara will try to fetch Mer votes for their party.
As per the latest Election Commission (EC) statistics, Porbandar parliamentary constituency has 13,86,621 voters. A sizeable number of voters are Kharva (fishermen), Koli and Muslims who are in fishing business.
Porbandar being a coastal belt, it has great port-based development potential, but it’s largely untapped so far. Salinity in water and land, non-availability of water and electricity for agriculture and lack of employment are the major issues of the constituency.
However, political issues like charismatic personality of chief minister Narendra Modi and national issues are also likely to be important poll issues. Mine mafia raj and high crime rate are also important issues in the Porbandar town and district area.
The Congress-led UPA government, just a few days before the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections, included Porbandar among the cities selected for the purpose of undertaking schemes under JNNURM.
The decision came three years after the state government’s request. Both the Congress and the BJP can claim credit for this decision. Development of Mahatma Gandhi’s birthplace, Kirti Mandir, and Gandhiji’s wife, Kasturba’s maternal house is also important issue. Kirti Mandir doesn’t have even enough peons. The area has become so congested that tourist buses cannot reach there. The place doesn’t have even a small parking plot.
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