Congress' Ahmedabad candidates begin charm offensive

Babaria’s mantra is ‘change’

“How do you choose a groom for your daughter? You become very choosy. Do the same thing while voting for any candidate in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election,” said Deepak Babaria, Congress candidate from Ahmedabad East while addressing a public meeting in Ghodasar.

While warning people that some candidates in the fray want to befool them, he urged the gathering not to waste their votes by supporting any undeserving candidate.

“You should vote for only those who are capable of running this country. Those who will not ditch you,” Babaria told a crowd listening to him in rapt attention. With only a few days left for the election, Babaria is leaving no stone unturned to garner maximum support from the people.

Banking heavily on work done by him in the constituency, Babaria struck a chord with the crowd by giving a local touch to his speech.

“Even if you do not vote for me, I am always there for you. You can give me a call even at midnight and I will be there to solve your problem. And if you want to vote for change, vote for Congress this time,” says Babaria while meeting people in Vatva on Tuesday.

Quite satisfied with the response from people in Vinjhol, Babaria asked his supporters and the people following him to march towards Ghodasar. He greeted everyone with folded hands and never missed a chance to seek blessings from his elders.

“People’s blessings are my strength and I am confident that the voters will support the right candidate,” he says to this reporter. Accompanied by slogan-shouting supporters, Babaria stopped at his next destination, where he was given a rousing welcome
by the party workers.

“See the enthusiasm of people. They all want change,” he said.

After addressing people at Ghodasar, Babaria moved on to Chunarwada. Though the people were happy to see him, some ladies came forward to express their displeasure over the absence of basic amenities like drainage and toilets in the area. Some reminded him of his promise to grant Rs250 some years back for starting small business ventures.

“BJP members never visited us after winning polls. Deepakbhai helped us build chawls. Though I am a BJP supporter, this time I will vote for Congress,” said Poptalbhai Chunara in Chunarvad. Chunara, however, requested Deepakbhai to help them get basic amenities like toilets and drainage lines.

BJP has failed to provide basic amenities: Parmar

Shailesh Parmar, the Congress candidate from the Ahmedabad West constituency for the Lok Sabha election, expects to draw committed voters of the BJP to his side. He visited different areas of the city, accompanied by around 15 motorcycles and two autorickshaws, in a roadshow which began at Town Hall at around 9 am on Wednesday and ended at Rajivnagar at around 2 pm.

Parmar said that though the corporators, MLA and MP from the areas in the constituency all belong to the BJP, none have solved the issues related to basic amenities such as water supply, drainage and electricity. “These areas are dominated by the BJP. However, the people here are disillusioned with the saffron party. So, they will vote for the Congress in the Lok Sabha election,” he said.

According to Parmar, the choice of candidate and his or her reputation make a lot of difference in the election. Because of his background, he has an edge over his archrival, BJP candidate Kirit Solanki, Parmar said, adding: “I have been elected as an MLA from the city twice. My father, Manubhai Parmar, is known as a representative of the people. So, I am not unfamiliar with the people.”

Talking about Ratna Vora, the rebel Congress councillor from the Rakhial ward and an independent candidate from the Ahmedabad West constituency, Parmar said her candidature will not have any impact on his chances of winning. “The BJP has encouraged her to contest independently. However, it will have no effect because the people have full confidence in the Congress and me,” he said.

Like other candidates of the Congress, Parmar projected the achievements of the UPA government under Manmohan Singh's leadership. “The people know that the UPA government has done a wonderful job at the Centre in this recessionary period,” he said.

Though the Congress has a good command over the central zone of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and a majority of its corporators belong to the Walled City, which falls in the Ahmedabad West constituency, Iqbal Sheikh from Gomtipur accompanied Parmar during his roadshow.