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BJP watching opposition moves in Gujarat

The Bharatiya Janata Party central leadership is keenly observing the moves of the opposition parties in Gujarat since a combined challenge by them could spoil its chances in the upcoming assembly election in the state, a party leader said on Thursday.

"We are keenly watching the opposition's moves in Gujarat. Sure, our Gujarat unit led by Chief Minister Narendra Modi is optimistic that our party will retain power. But if the opposition parties mount a combined assault without their votes being split, things could be difficult for us," he said on condition of anonymity.

"Optimism is one thing, but hard reality another. Our central leadership is aware that despite Chief Minister Modi's claims of invincibility in the impending elections in the state, we cannot afford to lower our guard," he said.

He was responding to a question on the reported survey commissioned by the BJP to gauge its electoral chances. The survey apparently predicted that the BJP would bag 96 seats in the 182-member assembly.

The BJP leader, however, refused to confirm or deny if such a survey was conducted.

Asked to cite the reasons for Modi's optimism, he said that the Gujarat society has become highly polarised due to the communal tone and tenor of the BJP and other parties.

"I feel that both sides have everything to lose in case of defeat. For us, the elections mean survival... as that would spell the party's doom. For the opposition, loss in the polls would once again raise the issue of their credibility," he pointed out.

He said: "The BJP stands to gain if the Samajwadi Party and the Nationalist Congress Party cut into Congress votes."

"My reading of the situation is that the overwhelming majority of the Muslim voters would side with the Congress. However, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Sharad Pawar (the chiefs of the SP and NCP respectively) can attract some Muslim votes if they fight the elections on their own. That could prove costly for the Congress," he said.

SP leader Amar Singh has said that his party is open to having a seat-sharing agreement with the Congress, which is a bit hesitant in this regard.

Congress leader Kamal Nath said: "We will have understanding for seat-sharing (with the SP) depending on their clout in various constituencies in Gujarat."

"Let them prove that they enjoy a certain standing in the constituencies in terms of voters and then we will be convinced," he said.

"It is not just the BJP which is having problems (in Gujarat), our brethren in the opposition are in the same boat," the BJP leader said.

Gujarat Elections 2002: The complete coverage

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