Gujarat: Matri Shakti, Milk politics give BJP advantage in 2nd phase voting

 

Gujarat: Matri Shakti, Milk politics give BJP advantage in 2nd phase voting



The second phase of polling in Gujarat on Monday, Dec 5, will have a few typical interesting elements - the role of women in panchayats and cooperatives and Milk politics. 

Banaskantha is a politically renowned hub. 


The economy of the district is based on agro & food Processing, milk production,
tourism, textile, and even mineral based/ceramic industries.


The district ranks first in the country in milk production and the Asia's largest Dairy Cooperative under the brand name of 'AMUL' is Banaskantha District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union Ltd.


Banaskantha is also the first district having the highest cold supply chain of Milk by installing 1280 bulk milk 
chilling units. Thus as expected, electoral politics also deals a lot with issues related to these
industries, dairy farming and of course empowerment of women.

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The BJP leaders and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel take pride in mentioning that the total 

number of women panchayat representatives is more than male representatives in Gujarat.

The 'monetary support' to women especially in rural Gujarat has played a crucial role in

the growth of economic activities. In Gujarat, the enrollment ratio of girls in primary education 

has been on constant rise.

Local BJP leader Swapan Shah says, "We in Gujarat have high respect for Matri Shakti.

Our state has a perfect image where women empowerment has helped achieve many glories.

The BJP as a party, Sangh as a group of pro-people initiatives and Narendra Modi as the 

leader always ensured an increase in women's participation in the development journey".

Meera Patil, an office goer in the town, says, "Do not forget, half the bank accounts in Gujarat

and especially in rural areas and in our region for which milk is transferred belong to women. Cooperative

system has been very strong here and the BJP as a party has handled cooperative movement very well".

In Palanpur, another BJP worker says - more than 70-75 cooperative office bearers are with the

Lotus party. "You may not appreciate as you all have different agenda in the media, but overall BJP will

sweep the North Gujarat and the rest of the state this year".

Even on ground zero, one gets a feel that there is a perceptible pro-BJP wave. Political loyalties have been changing

very fast and sometimes gradually. Thus, they say, the saffron party may cross 130 mark.

In this context, it can be said that even in 2002 after the riots, the saffron party could win only 127 seats -- the

maximum haul so far.

One local leader says, Amul as a body is now BJP-controlled and most workers of its 18 milk unions are now

with the party that is led by Modi and Amit Shah. "Even in 2019, a prominent Congress face in the region,

Ramsinh Parmar quit Congress and joined the BJP".

North Gujarat has 32 seats and the region dominated by rural and tribal voters had given Congress

18 seats in 2017 and remaining 14 came to the BJP.

Closer scrutiny of voters' mind will reveal that women empowerment is certainly crucial as every 

gram panchayat has women representatives including many sarpanches. 

These will make a difference in 2022 voting.

One official in Gandhinagar the know of things say these women have "creditably proved their mettle 

as skilled administrators and superb human beings". 

Poll analysts said while the Congress lost grip over the years, the AAP did not have adequate time

and sincerity to work in depth on these issues. The rural voters of Gujarat have solemnly stuck to

the BJP despite challenges in 2017.

They say - no body is realising a vital factor and that is -- the AAP's urban-focused approach vis-a-vis doing

politics based on data and statistics.

In contrast, the refrain has been the BJP went with people and to a large extent women oriented issues.

Out of 182 assembly seats in the state, in general across Gujarat - 130 of them could be counted as rural

segments. Interestingly, from the statistics and also from BJP's point of view -- the cooperative sector

can influence at least 85 seats. 

In all these, both the opposition parties AAP and Congress either simply are 'not present' on ground zero; or 

at best they are clueless on how to handle the rural voters and the sentiments of Gujarati women. Thus, with continuous approach, the BJP has able to cultivate these women and rural voters and also strengthened grip on

cooperatives across the state.

BJP leaders in Ahmedabad say, "Most of you in the media missed a point that there was about 3-4 percent

increase of women voters in the last five years since 2017. This Matri Shakti with their added numbers and

vigour are now with us".

Another vital factor that has helped in BJP penetrate its reach deeper is that by default or otherwise the

'caste' factor which apparently worked for Congress in many segments in 2017 has now started working 

in favour of the BJP.

There are some castes people who for example had managed only 100 litres of milk a day, but various

government initiatives and boosting to animal husbandry and other steps have now helped such families

to increase their milk production to even 1400-1500 litres per day. So, they will obviously vote a party whose

leader is PM Narendra Modi.

ends