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ELECTIONS '96

'Caste factor is not always important'

Babulal Shah, candidate from the Rapar assembly constituency in western Gujarat, was the first person to file his nomination. Finance minister in the Rashtriya Janata Parishad government in Gujarat, his chief rival is Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Gujarat chief minister Suresh Mehta.

Shah contested his first election as an Independent in 1972, but lost. He was then a Janata Party assembly candidate in 1975 and again lost, but by a mere 383 votes. He won as a BJP candidate in 1980 against the formidable Congress candidate, Haribhai Patel, and has been in the BJP since then.

Babulal Shah was among the first to rebel when he was not accommodated in the first BJP government formed by Keshubhai Patel. He claimed he had been kept out because of his rivalry with Suresh Mehta. Later, when Shankarsinh Vaghela split the BJP he joined it.

Shah is confident of retaining the Rapar seat. "My work will bring me the votes. I used to visit my constituency almost every fortnight, despite holding the difficult finance portfolio," he declares.

He then goes on to list his achievements: "Water shortage in my constituency has been reduced. My government has provided irrigation facilities in the Rapar subdistrict and improved the drinking water situation. Power for irrigation is available. Two major road projects -- the Dholavira-Khadir and the Tiocker-Palanava that will shorten the distances between Bhuj and Khadir island, and Rapar and Saurashtra respectively, are being implemented."

Caste plays a major role in Rapar. The Jain community, to which Rapar belongs, constitutes only five per cent of the electorate. This, however, does not worry Shah. "The caste factor may be important sometimes, but not always. The fact that I have won three elections from the same so-called caste-ridden constituency is proof enough," he boasts.

Shah also refutes doubts expressed that many of the RJP candidates are novices. "Our candidates may be novices but they are not weak," he says emphatically. case."

He admits that the BJP will be the RJP's main "enemy" in the election. "But we will see to it that we snatch maximum number of BJP votes," he boasts.

Suresh Mehta has accused the RJP government of obstructing the development schemes launched by his government. Shah flatly denies the charges. "No, this is not true," he says. "Three projects -- a shipbuilding yard, jetty expansion, and hovercraft services between Kutch and Bombay -- were sanctioned by the Mehta government without following proper procedures, hence the delays."

Mehta has also charged the RJP government with obstructing the Sanghi industrial house from carrying out its project. Shah again negates the accusation. "The Sanghis case has been pending in court," he replies, "We have pleaded their case at all levels. Shankarsinh Vaghela even spoke to the prime minister about it, but nothing seems to be happening."

Elections '98

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