New Delhi: The gloves are off. Gujarat is set to witness a booth-level war between the BJP and its formidable foe, the Aam Aadmi Party. Emerging as the BJP’s “enemy number one", AAP supremo and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who will visit Gujarat on July 9, will make forays into the saffron citadel with the slogan “One booth, 10 youth”.
Booth-level politics has been one of the strong points of the BJP. The AAP’s move to take on the saffron party at their own game is causing considerable concern in the local BJP. The Assembly polls are due next year.
Mr Kejriwal, who played the ‘panthic card’ in Punjab and Christian card in Goa, is now preparing to play the Hindu card in Gujarat. He tweeted: “Anandiben has got my Surat programme cancelled. But Lord Shiva has called. To see him, will go to Somnath on July 9. That programme stays as it was.”
His words echoed what Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said as he ventured into Varanasi during the Lok Sabha polls — Mujhe toh ma Ganga ne bulaya hai. (Mother Ganga has called me).
With the Congress down and out and the BJP hit by resentment and anti-incumbency, the AAP has decided to move in as an alternative force in Gujarat. While eyeing the Patidar voters and extending support to its jailed leader, Hardik Patel, the AAP on Thursday made it clear that “as a party we are against reservations”. The Patidar community, a major part of the financial backbone of the BJP, had been seeking the OBC status.
