<p>He is a veteran of many electoral battles but for the 85-year-old former chief minister, Keshubhai Patel, this electoral battle is the most significant and crucial. <br /><br /></p>.<p>More than the fight from the Opposition Congress, many see Keshubhai as the bigger challenge, a spoiler, for his bitter rival and incumbent chief minister Narendra Modi. An old sangh leader, he could make a major impact on the politically significant Patel votes in Saurashtra and South Gujarat. <br /><br />In a chat with <em>Swati Bhan </em>of Deccan Herald, Bapa, as he’s fondly known as, talks about the K factor, Modi and the significance of these elections. Excerpts:<br /><br />You have been a part of many electoral battles but this one surely is different. Assess your chances?<br /><br />These elections are not like any other elections. Mark my words, this would be a revolutionary election and there is a wave against the Modi regime; despite all pre-poll predictions, I can tell you I have felt it on the ground. Modi will be uprooted from Gujarat. There is a discernible wave against him and his autocratic style of governance and the voters will take a decisive call.<br /><br />The question everybody is asking is, will K factor work at least in Saurashtra region?<br /><br />It’s not just about the K factor. There are numerous factors. Farmers are angry, fishermen are up in arms. Even the middle class has been burdened by anti-people policies of the government. I am just a party worker exposing Modi’s hollow development model. I am telling people that this man has just benefitted a few industrial houses and not the common man. Modi will bite the dust because of his own wrong deeds.<br /><br />The Chief Minister has addressed several rallies but he has avoided direct attack on you. Why do you think he’s avoiding a head-on?<br /><br />He’s under pressure and scared of my new party’s clout. He knows it will backfire because people will not tolerate anything against me; that's why he’s using other leaders like Navjot Singh Sidhu, who even called me a traitor. But, he will avoid a direct confrontation because he realises that I have a goodwill among the people of Gujarat<br /><br />Analysts say that without an organisation you cannot achieve your goals. How can you take on Modi?<br /><br />You will be surprised that in just three months, we have around 15 lakh registered workers. Even BJP has managed to enrol only 30 lakh workers in the last 30 years. People are joining and they are dedicated to a cause - the cause of uprooting Modi. So organisational structure already exists.<br /><br /><br />Would you concede that a pre-poll tie up with Congress would have been a better strategy to avoid vote split?<br /><br />We are a separate entity and I firmly believe that my party will on its own form the government and there is no reason for a pre-poll tie up with them<br /><br />Would you agree an impressive win could catapult Modi to national level and push you into oblivion?<br /><br />Wait for December 20 and see how Modi, rather than going to Delhi, would fade into oblivion. Leave aside Prime Ministership, 2012 elections would be the beginning of his end.</p>
<p>He is a veteran of many electoral battles but for the 85-year-old former chief minister, Keshubhai Patel, this electoral battle is the most significant and crucial. <br /><br /></p>.<p>More than the fight from the Opposition Congress, many see Keshubhai as the bigger challenge, a spoiler, for his bitter rival and incumbent chief minister Narendra Modi. An old sangh leader, he could make a major impact on the politically significant Patel votes in Saurashtra and South Gujarat. <br /><br />In a chat with <em>Swati Bhan </em>of Deccan Herald, Bapa, as he’s fondly known as, talks about the K factor, Modi and the significance of these elections. Excerpts:<br /><br />You have been a part of many electoral battles but this one surely is different. Assess your chances?<br /><br />These elections are not like any other elections. Mark my words, this would be a revolutionary election and there is a wave against the Modi regime; despite all pre-poll predictions, I can tell you I have felt it on the ground. Modi will be uprooted from Gujarat. There is a discernible wave against him and his autocratic style of governance and the voters will take a decisive call.<br /><br />The question everybody is asking is, will K factor work at least in Saurashtra region?<br /><br />It’s not just about the K factor. There are numerous factors. Farmers are angry, fishermen are up in arms. Even the middle class has been burdened by anti-people policies of the government. I am just a party worker exposing Modi’s hollow development model. I am telling people that this man has just benefitted a few industrial houses and not the common man. Modi will bite the dust because of his own wrong deeds.<br /><br />The Chief Minister has addressed several rallies but he has avoided direct attack on you. Why do you think he’s avoiding a head-on?<br /><br />He’s under pressure and scared of my new party’s clout. He knows it will backfire because people will not tolerate anything against me; that's why he’s using other leaders like Navjot Singh Sidhu, who even called me a traitor. But, he will avoid a direct confrontation because he realises that I have a goodwill among the people of Gujarat<br /><br />Analysts say that without an organisation you cannot achieve your goals. How can you take on Modi?<br /><br />You will be surprised that in just three months, we have around 15 lakh registered workers. Even BJP has managed to enrol only 30 lakh workers in the last 30 years. People are joining and they are dedicated to a cause - the cause of uprooting Modi. So organisational structure already exists.<br /><br /><br />Would you concede that a pre-poll tie up with Congress would have been a better strategy to avoid vote split?<br /><br />We are a separate entity and I firmly believe that my party will on its own form the government and there is no reason for a pre-poll tie up with them<br /><br />Would you agree an impressive win could catapult Modi to national level and push you into oblivion?<br /><br />Wait for December 20 and see how Modi, rather than going to Delhi, would fade into oblivion. Leave aside Prime Ministership, 2012 elections would be the beginning of his end.</p>
