Are Independent Candidates Strong Enough to Sway Gujarat Polls?

The BJP and the Congress will keep a keen eye on the performance of Independent candidates on 18 December.

Election staff carry electronic voting machines (EVM) after collecting them from a distribution centre. 

(Photo: Reuters)

The Gujarat Assembly polls are heading for a nail-biting finish, and the two big political parties in the fray – the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress – have given everything but the kitchen sink to garner public support. In both phases of the elections, a total of 1,828 candidates will vie for seats in the Assembly, with 793 of them contesting as Independents.

Of the 793 candidates, 443 have already contested in the first phase on 9 December. The remaining 350 candidates’ fates will be sealed on Thursday, 14 December, when the final phase of polling is held.

With such a high number of Independents – and also considering the indecisiveness of the common Gujarati this election season – the major parties will try to sway these Independent candidates to their camp once the results are declared on 18 December.

Dalit Leader Jignesh Mewani

Rahul Gandhi with Jignesh Mevani.(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/INCIndia)

The most popular Independent candidates in the fray is Dalit leader Jignesh Mewani, who grabbed the spotlight after the Una flogging incident last year. A lawyer and former journalist, Mewani was instrumental in bringing the Dalit plight to the forefront, and was involved in many movements pertaining to land rights of Dalits living in Gujarat.

Mewani has Congress’ full support, as the Grand Old Party has not fielded a candidate in Vadgam. Meanwhile, BJP president Amit Shah has raised questions about the funding that Mewani has received for his campaign. Although his rallies were small, Mewani received tremendous support from Vadgam, especially from Dalits and Muslims.

Chandrika Solanki’s ASHA

The next most popular Independent candidate is Chandrika Solanki, who will contest from Vadodara City. She had hoped she’d get a Congress ticket, but that was not to be. Solanki came into the spotlight during Narendra Modi’s visit to Vadodara in October, when she threw bangles at the Prime Minister’s motorcade as a sign of protest.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi interacting with Chandrika Solanki during his visit to Vadodara earlier this month.(Photo Courtesy: Darshana Shukla)

Solanki has been a vocal leader for Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers, and is the president of the women's wing of the Contract and Fixed Salary Struggles Committee. She had started a statewide protest against the Gujarat government demanding equal pay and rights. A single mother, Solanki has the potential to upset the front runners.

Richest Independent Candidate

The third key independent candidate is Dharmendrasinh Vaghela, who will contest from Vaghodia constituency in Vadodara. With declared assets of Rs 97 crore, Vaghela is the third richest candidate among the 851 candidates who will contest in the second phase of polling.

Why Are Independents Important?

In the 2012 Gujarat Assembly Elections, of the total 668 independent candidates, only one won a seat. Back in 2012, the Modi factor was at its peak, as he was the reigning chief minister of Gujarat and was running for his third successive term. However, this time Modi is at the Centre and there is dissent among common Gujaratis towards the incumbent BJP government.

As demonetisation, goods and services tax (GST), and rising inflation, coupled with the reservation movement, have taken centre stage, the BJP is wary. In fact, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani’s alleged phone call to an Independent candidate in Wadhwan constituency asking him to back out of the race went viral on social media.

With the Congress gaining political mileage thanks to a spirited campaign by Rahul Gandhi, who has the support of the Patidars, OBCs and Dalits, the BJP will keep a keen eye on the performance of the Independent candidates on 18 December. As analysts are calling the Gujarat elections a cliff-hanger, it will be interesting to see how the BJP and the Congress woo victorious Independent candidates to form a new government in Gujarat.