Independent MLA Jignesh foresees victory for Congress in next Assembly polls in Gujarat

Jignesh Mevani, an independent MLA from the Vadgam Assembly constituency in Gujarat, painted a rosy picture of the Congress in the ensuing Assembly polls as the people across the country in general and Gujarat, in particular, are fed up with the hatred politics of BJP. Hence, he predicted that the Congress party has bright prospects of romping home in Gujarat Assembly polls.

Gujarat:Jignesh Mevani, an independent MLA from the Vadgam Assembly constituency, was determined to see the end of BJP rule in the forthcoming Assembly polls in Gujarat. Though he has not joined the Congress, he expressed his willingness to contest in the 2022 Assembly elections on the Congress ticket. He spoke to ETV Bharat on different issues, including why he choose to contest on the Congress ticket in the ensuing Assembly polls and on BJP's hatred politics.

"I have chosen the Congress party as it keeps the democracy of the country alive. The RSS and the BJP have launched a massive attack on democracy and communal unity. The country is in crisis. Instead of finding solutions to unemployment, inequality, housing problem and providing basic needs, the BJP was indulging in religious politics, and there is a case of treason against those who raise their voice against it while IT and ED raids will be carried out against them and the CBI investigation will be ordered. An atmosphere of hatred and fear is being created. Such politics no longer works. Under these circumstances, I felt that it would be, too, late in 2024 if we did not stop this politics of hatred."

When asked about the prospects of the Congress in the next Assembly polls, which are due in December 2022, he recalled that in 2017 Assembly polls, the majority of BJP had been reduced to 99 while the Congress had bagged 77 seats. "I will strive hard to strengthen the Congress party and along with other party leaders, he is hopeful that the party would give a tough fight to the BJP."

He pointed out that a survey was conducted by a neutral agency and according to the report, "the people in Gujarat are annoyed as they felt that the BJP government had failed in handling the second wave of Corona. The unity of Dalits, STs and OBCs would a pivotal role in bringing down the BJP government. The people are unhappy with the government as it had failed to tackle inflation and provide employment. Therefore, the Congress has a bright chance of winning the next polls."

When asked about the role of Aam Aadmi Party and AIMIM in the state, he said that there is no space for them. After the death of Ahmed Patel, the gap between the Gujarat Congress and the Delhi Congress has widened, will this gap be bridged by your arrival? he said, "I cannot claim that, but I am a general worker of the party and I will do whatever the party assigns me."