Gujarat confidential: Evolving Equations

At the ninth edition of the mass wedding organised by BJP MLA Ketan Inamdar’s Mahendra Jashbhai Charity Trust, in memory of his late father, the changed dynamics of the party’s Vadodara Lok Sabha seat were at play. Inamdar, who was seen as a close aide of sitting MP Ranjan Bhatt who has ‘withdrawn’ her candidature following opposition from within the party, was seen sharing the dais with Hemang Joshi, the BJP’s new candidate, as well as other elected MLAs of the city and district. Bhatt, a regular attendee, remained conspicuous by her absence. After state BJP President C. R. Paatil stated that only BJP workers had the “values to organise mass weddings and blood donation camps”, Inamdar also made a pitch for Joshi by urging the beneficiaries of the event to “bless Joshi with votes” in return for the “good work” of the Inamdar family.

Assured Results

Union Minister of State for Communications and Kheda MP Devusinh Chauhan Thursday said it was an “acknowledged fact” that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be re-elected for a third term in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as his “ascetic” life has led him to be “successful”. Speaking at a booth-workers’ event in his constituency in the presence of Gujarat BJP Chief C. R. Paatil, Chauhan said, “The whole world is aware and has acknowledged the upcoming (Lok Sabha) results… As many as 15 countries have invited Modi as the Prime Minister in advance as he is an ascetic and the most successful PM of the country”. At the event, Chauhan also expressed confidence that the BJP would outperform in the Kheda and Anand Lok Sabha seats — once Congress strongholds that slipped away from the grand old party due to the “winds of change” brought about by PM Modi’s leadership.