Muslims Out En Masse

We are four brothers and we stay 100 km away from the Siddhpur constituency, where we are enrolled as voters. All of us will to go to Siddhpur on December 12 and vote for the Congress. We have no problem with the BJP's progressive candidate here, Jaynarayan Vyas, but we can't vote for his party," says H. Kadiwala, a Muslim, whose three highway restaurants were reduced to ashes in the riots. "Last time, we hadn't voted because it was so far away," he says.

Says Kasambhai Patel, a former village sarpanch, "The Muslims could be the deciding factor in many seats. And this time, there will be 100 per cent voting. Don't ask why. The Muslims are scared for their lives. Every vote is important to throw out this dangerous government." To ensure a huge turnout, bus-loads of the Muslim Cheliah community, who own many of the highway restaurants, are likely to land up.

The electricity and water shortage are also major issues here, especially for farmers. "The BJP has done nothing," says a Bharatiya Kisan Sangh leader, who wished to remain anonymous.

In urban areas, the communal divide may work to the BJP's advantage in a few seats. "But such seats are few and far between," says Dr Rajesh Bhatt of Palanpur. Factionalism in the BJP in 3-4 seats may also offset the advantage. The Congress is looking at 12 seats, up three times from '98. "It will be more, not less," claims Madhusudhan Mistry, a Congress MP from the region.