Vijay Rupani to miss ‘honeymoon’ in his second innings

The Vijay Rupani government faces the onerous challenge of defending the ‘Gujarat Model’ of development in the face of strident opposition from farmers, unemployed youth, over half a million state government employees drawing abysmally low fixed wages, members of the dalit community facing oppression and discrimination and women suffering silently because of increasing alcoholism and drug abuse.

Farmers vent their anger against the BJP government for its failure to give remunerative prices for their produce, mainly groundnut and cotton.

Though the BJP received people’s mandate to rule the state for the sixth term, the party failed to cross double digits in the 182-member state assembly, winning 99 seats, just seven seats more than the majority. The party could cobble up a majority in the assembly because of support it received from urban centres.

It would be a daunting task for the ruling party to win the confidence of people in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections if the Rupani government fails to mitigate the suffering of farmers, unemployed youth and landless dalit labourers. There are enough indications that the three powerful agrarian agitations that had rocked the boat of the previous BJP government would continue with renewed vigour.

However, the movement by the youth of the Patidar community led by 23-year-old Hardik Patel seeking reservation in jobs and higher education on par with that available to the OBCs may not be able to pick up steam because even pro-quota stir leaders have realised that it is not possible to get reservation under the present provisions in the Constitution.

Hardik Patel, who had vigorously campaigned against the BJP in the recently held assembly elections, drawing huge crowds in his rallies, has begun highlighting the problems of farmers, dalits and minorities, marking a major shift in his emphasis on the plight of the educated Patidar youth. In a significant development, the new icon of Dalit youth, Jignesh Mevani showed solidarity with Hardik soon after he won the assembly election as an independent from the Vadgam constituency.

It was the coming together of Hardik, Jignesh and OBC SC ST Ekta Manch convenor Alpesh Thakore that led to the BJP suffering major reverses in the predominantly rural regions of Saurashtra and North Gujarat.

Alpesh, who won the assembly seat of Radhanpur, has resolved to continue his campaign for the abolition of the contract system in government jobs and for filling up of vacant posts reserved for the members of OBC, SC and ST. There are over 6,00,000 employees of the state government who are given fixed salary bereft of benefits such as leave, Provident Fund and Gratuity that permanent employees get.

The Gujarat Khedut Samaj, an umbrella organisation of farmers, too has decided to continue their agitation against the government’s move to acquire farm land for setting up of Special Economic Zones, Special Investment Regions and for urbanisation.

Realising the seriousness of the agrarian discontent brewing, the chief minister designate Vijay Rupani has indicated that addressing the problems of the farmers would be the top priority of his government.

With the Lok Sabha elections just one and a half years away, the Rupani government will have to perform with double the speed to meet the expectations of farmers, unemployed youth and dalits