It’s time for elections, not garba, for BJP organisers

MUMBAI: Rushed election deadlines and the tussle over seat-sharing between the Shiv Sena-BJP are having an unlikely effect on Navratra celebrations. Manoj Kotak and Mihir Kotecha, prominent garba organisers who are aspiring for BJP tickets, have cancelled celebrations. They would rather invest their time, money and manpower in electioneering.
Incidentally, the BJP has the largest Gujarati base in the city and is keen to repeat its Lok Sabha election victory in the state.
One hosts the Kalidas ground event in Mulund and the other the Viju Shah garba in the central suburbs.
Public festivals commonly acquire an added sheen in an election year. But this season is markedly different due to the tug of war within the saffron alliance. Barely three weeks ahead of the polls, candidates’ names have not been announced.
“Now that the code of conduct has come into effect, we are not permitted to organise or participate in promotional events. Secondly, it is better to concentrate all resources, particularly manpower, in organising a proper election campaign rather than garba, which we can do next year,” a party associate said.
Kotak said, “This is the first time in seven years that I will not be hosting garba. As a political person I cannot organise an event. It is true that Navratra is a good time to bond with the community but we do have our own, different network where we meet people on a one-to-one basis. We will spend this Navratra working for the party.”
A senior BJP leader from Mulund said, “We conduct garba on a very grand scale. There is a team of 250 workers that manages the enormous logistics required to host thousands of people for nine days in a row. The festival spans nine days but work begins 20 days before.”
He said there was little chance of diverting resources to garba during the election season.
“It is not so much about money but manpower. Particularly this year, given that candidates’ names are yet to be announced and time is short for running a proper campaign. The nail-biting uncertainty over the BJP-Sena alliance is another factor. In case the alliance is called off, we do not have a minute to waste. Every single candidate and party worker has to put his nose to the grindstone should the BJP decide to go it alone. Three weeks ago, we called our star performer and informed him that we will not organise garba this year,” he said.
“The candidates’ list may be released on September 23-24 and the festival begins on September 25. Even if I am not given a ticket, I cannot organise a grand garba in 48 hours. It is better to sit out the season and concentrate on the elections, as a candidate or party worker. We can always organise garba next year, perhaps from a position of advantage in the state assembly,” he said.
The exit of the BJP strongmen has left the central suburbs open to Jignesh Khilani, another big organiser in Ghatkopar. “Ours is not a political garba mandal, so we will go ahead full steam,” he said.