The Congress expects gain from Morbi seat; from 1995 to 2012, the BJP constantly won the Morbi seat now this is a good chance for the Congress
Morbi, which is well-known for its ceramic and clock manufacturing industries, has long been a BJP stronghold. From 1995 to 2012, the party constantly won the seat. However, in the most recent Assembly elections in 2017, BJP ultimately lost the seat and the constituency.
Now, it is anticipated that Sunday’s bridge disaster, which claimed almost 140 lives just before the state’s Assembly election results were announced, could alter the political landscape in Morbi.
The Patidar quota movement was present when the Congress won in 2017. With a sizable Patidar population, Morbi has been one of the agitation’s focal points. Brijesh Merja of the Congress won that election by a slim margin of 3,419 votes over Kanti Amrutiya of the BJP, who won five times.
Merja was appropriately rewarded in the 2021 Cabinet rearrangement, when all ministers, starting with the Chief Minister, were replaced, after he switched to the BJP, resigned, ran in a byelection, and won again. Merja has been appointed as minister of state for rural development, rural housing, labour, and panchayat.
The former BJP Morbi MLA, Amrutiya, was at the centre of the rescue efforts in the wake of the tragedy as Merja battled the heat. He was one of the community leaders that dove into the Machchhu River in an effort to save lives.
The Congress Party blamed the BJP for the Morbi incident
Even though Merja and Amrutiya were unreachable despite numerous tries, the Congress is optimistic that Morbi will once again vote for the party in light of Sunday’s events. Lalit Kagathara, a working president of the Gujarat Congress and a Tankara MLA, claimed that the incident would have an effect on the BJP throughout the state of Gujarat, not just in the Morbi seat. The administration’s failure has been seen by many. While we haven’t been able to keep a bridge maintained, (Narendra) Modi saheb is talking about manufacturing defence equipment. People have realised that the BJP members are simply making empty promises.
According to Kagathara, the Congress already held a decisive advantage. If given the ticket, Brijesh Merja would have lost regardless. He will undoubtedly lose now.
Among those who had lost to the BJP multiple times from the area, Morbi district Congress president Jayantilal Patel stated: “The tragedy has exposed the weakness of the system… This will significantly affect how the Morbi seat turns out”.
While, it is incorrect to place the blame for what occurred on the administration, according to his BJP rival Durlabhji Dethariya. “The servicing contract was granted to a private company… I don’t believe this incident will have an impact on our party. The workers of our government and party have completed their tasks in full (after the incident).”
Next 72 hours are crucial for the government
However, BJP leaders confess anxiety in private. Any calamity at this time has political ramifications, according to a top party official in the state. The party and the administration must cope with the situation and the public’s sentiment in the next 72 hours, he continued. The state administration might not experience a widespread reaction if it acts with compassion and is successful in persuading people that there were no errors on its part. The next 72 hours, however, will determine.
PM Modi visited Morbi
Therefore, everyone’s attention is focused on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned trip to Morbi on Tuesday. Even though he and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel postponed many of their scheduled activities, Modi, who is on a three-day visit to Gujarat, did not visit the scene of the tragedy on Monday.
Patel is currently camped up in Morbi to direct the rescue and relief efforts alongside many other ministers. In his speeches at three different venues during the day, PM Modi also expressed regret for the incident.
The Congress criticises the BJP on PM Modi’s visit to Morbi
Prior to PM Modi’s visit on Tuesday, the Congress party attacked the BJP by publishing allegedly authentic pictures and videos of the civil hospital being renovated.
“PM Modi will go to the Morbi civil hospital tomorrow. Repainting and renovation are being done there prior to that. Glazed tiles are being put up. Everything is being done to make sure that PM Modi’s reputation won’t suffer in any way.”
“They aren’t embarrassed. They don’t seem to care that so many people have died; all they can think about is the event.”
