AHMEDABAD
Party draws hope from its performance in the 2017 assembly elections
A tough electoral battle awaits the BJP in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, as the Congress is eyeing big gains in Saurashtra and north Gujarat. The Congress is drawing hope from its performance in the two regions in the 2017 assembly elections, and is confident of replicating the success in the coming polls.
The Congress had drawn a blank in the state in the 2014 elections, but had won in 28 out of 48 assembly seats in 2017. The party has set a target of winning between six and nine Lok Sabha seats in the coming polls, said a party insider. "The party is confident of winning in Amreli, Junagadh, and Surendranagar. This is based on our performance of 2017, candidate selection keeping caste equations in mind, agrarian crisis, and other factors," he said.
The Congress has fielded leader of opposition Paresh Dhanani as its candidate from Amreli, senior MLA Punja Vansh from Junagadh, and ex-MP and MLA Soma Patel from Surendranagar. While Dhanani and Vansh will take on sitting MPs Naran Kachhadia and Rajesh Chudasama respectively, Soma Patel will take on Mahendra Munjpara.
"We are confident that we will be able to build on this momentum and win in these seats," said state Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi.
The Congress is also confident of putting up a good fight in Porbandar, where it has fielded Dhoraji MLA Lalit Vasoya. He will take on Ramesh Dhaduk of BJP after the party dropped sitting MP Vitthal Radadiya because of his poor health. In north Gujarat, the opposition party hopes to wrest Banaskantha, Sabarkantha and Patan from BJP. It has fielded former Amul chairman and cooperative leader Parthi Bhatol as its candidate from Banaskantha. Modasa MLA Rajendrasinh Thakor is the Sabarkantha candidate, and former MP Jagdish Thakor from Patan.
Bhatol will take on state minister Parbatbhai Patel, while Rajendrasinh Thakor will face-off against MP Dipsinh Rathod. Similarly, Thakor will have a direct fight with BJP MLA Bharatsinh Dabhi.
"Our candidate selection in these seats has been spot on, and our assessment is that we should win these three too," said a party source. The Congress candidate AJ Patel, a retired government official, and founder of an influential Patidar organisation, will take on Shardaben Patel of BJP from Mehsana Lok Sabha in the April 23 polls. State BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya, however, said that the BJP would once again win all 26 seats in the state. "The work done by the Narendra Modi government in last five years will ensure our victory in all seats. The Congress will score a zero in Gujarat," he said.
Darshan case: Karnataka HC reserves order on jailed actor's bail plea
DNA TV Show: Congress’ fresh allegations against SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch
Mukesh Ambani acquires another company after 3 years, it manufactures...
Hyderabad: Visually challenged couple lives unaware with son's body for 4 days
Noel Tata makes first major appearance since Ratan Tata's demise, seen at...
J-K: Light snowfall in higher reaches of Kashmir, IMD predicts cloudy weather for...
WATCH: Son gets Rs 3 lakh porn movie offer, his mom's reaction goes viral
Bigg Boss 18: Vivian Dsena's wife Nouran Aly gives stern warning to Karan Veer Mehra, says don't...
Bollywood’s biggest flop sold only 500 tickets, made at Rs 45 cr, it earned only…, it starred…
7th Pay Commission: Diwali GIFT for govt employees of this state, DA hiked by...
Instagram down: Users face issues while sending messages, say, 'Rehne do fir'
Bigg Boss 18: Nyrraa Banerji opens up on her 'love angle' with Shehzada Dhami, says 'both of us...'
Ahead of Diwali, Akshay Kumar donates Rs 10000000 in Ayodhya for...
Dhanteras 2024 Shubh Muhurat: Puja timings, vidhi and what to buy
Mukesh Ambani's company gets RBI approval, set to operate as an online...
Who is the richest kid of Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani? Is it Akash, Isha or Anant? Know here
Watch: Amazon Alexa launches Diwali rocket, viral video stuns internet
Dimple Kapadia reacts to being social media savvy like Zeenat Aman: 'If I’ll ever be....'
Amid affair rumours with Abhishek Bachchan, Nimrat Kaur requests everyone to...
Rising Trends In Fertility Due To Environmental Pollution
Andrew Spira's New Book: A Guide To Entrepreneurial Resilience
What Makes Furniture Truly Cosy?
Delhi NCR news: Delhi Police, NCB bust meth lab in Noida, 5 arrested
Good news for Gautam Adani on Dhanteras 2024, his flagship company's profit jumps to Rs...
IND vs NZ: Star bowler called up to India’s squad for 3rd Test, likely to make debut in Mumbai
Meet woman, who cracked UPSC exam on her first attempt at age 23, to become...
Amid Aishwarya Rai-Abhishek Bachchan divorce rumours, know what 'grey divorce' means
IND vs NZ: India’s another landmark record at stake in Mumbai Test vs New Zealand
Who is Sheikh Naim Qassem, the new chief of Lebanon's Hezbollah?
PM Modi launches health cover for senior citizens; know eligibility, how to apply here
Chhoti Diwali 2024: Know significance of celebration, shubh muhurat, rituals and more
College student jumps from 4th floor of hostel thinking he had...
'Not Saint, Sadhu or...': Jaya Kishori hits back at trolls slamming her for Dior bag
Aishwarya Rai’s remark on divorce plans with Abhishek Bachchan goes viral: ‘We don’t even…’
Sunita Williams sends Diwali wishes from space, here's what she said; watch
Diwali 2024 long weekend: Banks to remain closed for four days in THESE states, full list here
'Monopoly Bachao Syndicate': LoP Rahul Gandhi alleges 'nexus' among Adani Group, BJP and...
Good news for Indians, Russia to offer visa-free travel by...
Big trouble for Gautam Adani, SEBI slaps show-cause notice to Adani Power, shares price fall by...
Two killed, several injured in Metro construction site accident in Patna, probe underway
Mukesh Ambani's BIG Diwali gift, JioFinance app will now let you buy gold for just Rs...
Mukesh Ambani's JioSaavn's festive offer: 3-month subscription for just Rs...
Baba Siddique's son Zeeshan Siddique gets threat message; accused held from Noida
J-K attack: Army dog 'Phantom' dies in anti-terror operation, honoured for sacrifice
Glenn Maxwell reveals Virat Kohli blocked him on Instagram after...
Mukesh Ambani's Diwali gift to Reliance employees is a box of..., watch viral video
Fashion designer Ratul Sood passes away playing golf in Kolkata
UP govt announces big gift ahead of Diwali, all employees of THIS department to be made permanent
How can AI, ML skills help sharpen problem-solving abilities in children?
Kerala: Over 150 injured, 8 critical, in fireworks accident during temple festival
Ratan Tata's Rs 10,000 crore Will: Who gets what? Here's all the details
Delhi-NCR AQI today: Delhi air quality remains 'very poor' ahead of Diwali despite firecracker ban
Ex-Pakistani cricketer takes brutal dig at Rohit Sharma, calls India 'Kagaz se sher aur...'
Is stock market open or closed on Dhanteras? Know details here
Kunal Kamra accepts Bhavish Aggarwal's 'join Ola' offer, has THESE demands
Education ALERT: Avoid these courses at all costs, no job guarantees
Salman Khan can’t take his eyes off Aishwarya Rai in viral video, fans say ‘inki shaadi hoti toh…’
Ahead of Diwali and Chhath Puja, Railways to run 250 special trains from today: Check full list
Israel passes law banning UNRWA operations in country: What does that mean?
Happy Dhanteras 2024: Wishes, WhatsApp messages, quotes, greetings to share with your loved ones
Delhi traffic advisory issued for ‘Run For Unity’ today, check list of routes to avoid here
Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale 2024 ends today, don't miss these fantastic deals