Will BJP penetrate Congress bastion of Porbandar?

Porbandar, which is the constituency of Gujarat Congress president and MLA Arjun Modhwadia, is ready for an-eye-for-an-eye clash between the BJP and Congress. While Congress boasts of Centre-funded schemes implemented in the area, BJP considers the city a perfect example where development is in a state of inertia.

“Arjun Modhwadia did not develop Porbandar in 10 years. All factories were closed under Congress rule,” said BJP leader Nilesh Odedra in a IBN7 programme Meri Vote, Meri Sarkar.

However, Devshi Modhwadia who represented the Congress in the programme, refuted all allegations.

“Arjun Modhwadia got important projects cleared from the Centre. The Mission City project for Rs 872 crore, Rs 54 crore tourism package and Rs 68 crore split flyover were all cleared by the Centre because of Modhwadia,” said Devshi Modhwadia.

Rajesh Pandya, who came from the newly-formed Gujarat Parivartan Party, targetted the BJP more than the Congress.

“BJP is into illegal mining. The last BJP MLA looted all the limestone from Porbandor,” Pandya said.

Another sensitive topic that concerns Porbandar was the often seizing fishing boats by Pakistan.

“When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister, Pakistan did not dare to seize Indian fishing trawlers. Now the Centre is not concerned about the upliftment of the fishing community,” Odedra said.

Congress’ Devshi was quick to counter the claims made by the BJP leader.

“Everyone knows our relationship with Pakistan is not good. The Centre gives compensation to those fishermen whose boats are seized by Pakistan. Moreover, when we were in power we gave the fishermen subsidy on diesel. The BJP government stopped it,” the Congress representative said.

The Porbandar district has two constituencies — Kutiyana and Porbandor. It is mostly dominated by the Mehr and Kharwa caste.

The state votes on 13 and 17 December. The counting is scheduled on 20 December.