In order to ensure 272 plus seats in 2014 general elections, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi needs perfect result in his home-State Gujarat.
With a target to pocket all 26 lok Sabha constituencies from Gujarat, apart from other States, Modi is also focusing on his own territory to further strengthen BJP’s position. As part of this strategy, the venue for the State level Republic Day function has been changed from newly-carved Devbhoomi Dwarka district to Congress-dominated Himmatnagar, headquarter of Sabarkantha district in North Gujarat.
Statistics of the last Assembly elections in December 2012 tells everything. Despite thumping victory of saffron brigade under Narendra Modi in Gujarat for the third consecutive term, BJP lost six Assembly constituencies out of seven in Sabarkantha district. Though sitting Sabarkantha MP Mahendrasinh Chauhan is from the saffron brigade,
the result of Assembly elections awakened BJP think tank in the State. looking to the fact, it was decided to change the venue from Dwarka to Sabarkantha to strengthen BJP’s position in context of upcoming lok Sabha elections.
Sources said that the Congress party is also trying hard to capitalise on their thumping victory in the Northern Gujarat district. Congress has also started working on the important seat by offering ticket to one of the strongest candidate from the party to ensure victory, where its position is better than other constituencies of Gujarat.
“Plethora of programmes has been planned in Sabarkantha as part of the State level function. Chief Minister himself would remain present in most of these functions. He would also announce huge funds for various developmental projects and programmes for the area,” said a source in the State General Administration Department (GAD). Even local BJP leaders believe that presence of Modi would change tide towards BJP before the general elections.
Traditionally State level programmes on the Republic Day, the Independence Day and the Gujarat Day (May 1) used to be organised at State capital Gandhinagar. Modi set a new tradition from 2005 to oganise State level functions on these three important days at the various district headquarters.