Though the state government claims the Jyotigram plan to be a success, power supply remains erratic in many parts. When rediff.com visited Amrapur village near Dahegaum on November 26, there was no power supply in residential areas. However, villagers did say, "Today electricity goes twice or thrice a week for about two hours daily."
In spite of major technical problems being faced by the government in improving power supply, there is no denying the fact that the situation is significantly better than before.
In the process, more than 1,30,000 people -- mostly farmers -- have been raided and fined for power theft over the last five years. More than 2,000 farmers have been jailed for power theft and related crimes. Many of them were Bharatiya Janata Party or Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh supporters who form the backbone of the anti-Modi campaign in Saurashtra region. This unpopular move will haunt Patel in Botad.
His rival, Pithawala, told his supporters last week that they should canvas his candidacy among disgruntled farmers. A voter in Botad said, "Pithawala is so rich that he will pay off the farmers' electricity bills if they support him."
"It requires tremendous political guts to take a decision to stop theft of electricity all over Gujarat. Modisaheb had guts," says Patel.
Being a businessman and belonging to the upper class, Patel is unrelenting in his idea of development and quotes heavily about planned and unplanned expenditures. When asked about his electoral prospects, Patel told rediff.com, "I have done my home work, so I will win. I have provided drinking water in all homes, I have provided 24/7 electricity and the media is not noting that the Modi government has been quite successful in stopping migration from villages to cities."
He cites Ratanpur village in his constituency where due to non-stop power supply, diamond cutting factories had come up and natives were turning back from Surat and Mumbai. Patel, like most BJP legislators, cites that farmers in their area have more money in their hands due to increased production owing to better supply of water to farms. The huge private and government initiative to create check-dams, which has helped conserve rainwater, is helping the government create a 'feel-good' factor in some villages, which have seen draught and water scarcity.
On the level of communal harmony in his area, Patel says: "Development of Gujarat has helped bury the Godhra issue. Under Modi's leadership incomes of Muslims in Gujarat has increased. In the last five years, we have never imposed curfew. Muslims are secure and have opportunities to earn more."
He adds, "Muslims earn in a big way in Gujarat during the kite festival and Navratri. Meet the Banni community of Kutch -- they are earning a labour charge of Rs 250 per day after the government allowed them to cut unwanted plantations. Let the results come. You will know how many Muslims have helped Modi win."
Image: People turn up in large numbers to hear Modi. (Inset) Saurabh Patel, the BJP candidate in Botad.
Also read: 'Narendra Modi is scared of losing'
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