BJP-AD tie-up a part of 'grand' RSS plan

VARANASI: Bharatiya Janata Party's pre-poll alliance with Apna Dal is a part of Rashtriya Swayam Sewak (RSS) 'plan' to ensure a three lakh victory margin for Narendra Modi. "RSS has chalked out a well-thought plan," said a senior party functionary.
"In the past, Patels or Kurmis supported the Left or socialism. Due to their support, CPI leader Upal, a Patel himself, represented Kolsala assembly seat nine times.However, after Ram janmabhoomi agitation Patels of the region opted for saffron robe," said Prof Kowshal Kishor Mishra, head of the political science department of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
According to him, Patel votes switched to BJP in UP during the regime of Kalyan Singh. "At that time Sonelal Patel had already appeared on the political scene and had formed Apna Dal. However, he failed to win as he solely depended on Patel votes," said Mishra adding that the BJP-AD alliance would benefit both parties. "Patels were close to the BJP till the emergence of AD," said Srinath Singh Patel of Janata Dal (United), once an ally of NDA.
BJP needed AD to consolidate Patel votes to maximize Modi's victory margin and the Patels too wanted to see their leader (Anupriya Patel) as a minister in the Central government, said the professor.
Common perception is that the BJP-AD alliance would increase the victory margin as the region has a significant population of Patels. AD leader Anupriya Patel, who currently represents Patel-dominated Rohaniya assembly constituency, is contesting from Mirzapur parliamentary constituency. The pre-poll tie up is being viewed as winning equation for Anupriya too in Mirzapur.
"Yahan to sab Modimay hai," (Everything here is in Modi colour), said Sachchalal Patel, a shopkeeper at Patel-dominated Jayapur village near Rajatalab area. Modi, who is also known as 'Chhote Sardar' in Gujarat, is popular among UP's Patels.
"Here Patels have a natural affinity with Modi, though he belongs to most backward class," said senior BJP leader and former state minister Omprakash Singh. A powerful Patel leader, Singh led the iron collection campaign in the state for the Statue of Unity, being constructed in Gujarat. Modi had laid the foundation stone of the statue on October 31, 2013, the 138th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.
According to Singh, Statue of Unity project had a huge impact on Patel community as their sentiments are attached with Sardar Patel. Areas like Mirzapur, Varanasi, Allahabad, Jalon, Kanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Ruhelkhand, Deoria, Kushinagar, Basti and Siddharth Nagar, have significant population of Patels, he said adding the party was hopeful of their support to Modi and BJP. According to him, Patels in Gujarat are educated and economically sound in comparison to UP's Patels. In the regime of Modi they found conducive environment to grow and such things certainly attract UP's Patels.
"We witnessed the long regime of Congress in the country and now we are seeing the development of Gujarat. The difference between the two is sufficient to explain things," said Sachchalal. Roughly Varanasi has around two lakh Patel votes while Mirzapur parliamentary constituency has over two lakh Patel votes.