As catchphrases like swarnim-rising-developed Gujaratcharted its path toward a crescendo ahead of the assembly elections in Gujarat,Mahuva, a small taluka in Bhvanagar district, stands out.
Those terms are an anathema here.
Here “swarnim Gujarat” means taking away farmer’s land forthe industry. Here “development” means drawing out sweet water from underneaththeir land that has sustained agriculture for over two decades. Here “risingGujarat” means destroying agriculture, the only means of livelihood the regionhas known for centuries.
So why has development in Mahuva assumed connotations sodifferent from the popular perception across the state?
Not long ago, farmers of this region fought pitched battleto get their land back from Nirma company, which wanted to set up a cementfactory in the region.
According to the farmers, 222 out of 268 hectares allottedby the state government to the company covered a waterbody, which was crucialto the region’s flourishing agriculture. The cement factory, the localscontended, would have destroyed their farming, besides causing irreparabledamage to the environment.
Although the farmers emerged victorious eventually, afterSupreme Court asked Nirma to stop work in a verdict issued in March last yearand the environment and foreign ministry withdrew environment clearance, twoyears of uncertainty, helplessness, and the indifference of the Narendra Modigovernment bordering on brazenness has left a scar on the collective psyche ofthe region.
Not surprisingly, then, scores of voters in Mahuva andadjoining constituencies are set against BJP and its candidates. While theresults to be declared on December 20 could swing either way, there is anapprehension among the electorate that if the BJP wins the Mahuva seat, Nirmacould be back to haunt them.
Enter the unlikely hero: a former soldier of the ‘enemy’
“The Modi government allotted our land to Nirma in the nameof development. What would development mean to us if our lands where destroyedand water drawn out?” asked Bharat Shiyal, sarpanch of Dugheri village underMahuva constituency.
This sentiment was echoed in almost all villages of theconstituency. So, having won the seat for the last three terms, the BJP isunder attack for the first time in 15 years.
Many, if not the majority, of voters said they have given upon BJP this time, rallying, instead, behind the man who won the Mahuva seat onBJP ticket for those three consecutive terms. Dr Kanubhai Kalsaria, a practicingsurgeon and the sitting MLA who opposed his own government’s policy andsuccessfully led the farmer’s agitation against Nirma factory, is the cynosureof all their hope.
Following the showdown with his party and government,Kalsaria left the BJP to float his own party, Sadbhavna Manch, which hasfielded five candidates in Mahuva and adjoining constituencies.
While the Manch is confident of its victory in Mahuva andGariadhar constituency, it campaigned hard for the other three constituencies:Talaja, Rajula and Savarkundla.
“The movement to drive Nirma out and preserve the coastalecology won us the public goodwill in Mahuva and surrounding areas,” Kalsariatold Governance Now, adding that the party thus fielded candidates in the fourother seats.
The goodwill Kalsaria mentioned had to be seen to bebelieved, as village after village along the coastal areas went out canvassingfor “Saheb”, as Kalsaria is called. Supporters left no stones unturned in ahope to make him and his party victorious.
“Saheb was with us when the entire government machinery waswith Nirma. He fought against his own government to save our land,” saidSurajbhai from Dolia village, on whose land the company was building itsfactory.
“Bijli sadak aur pani ka kya karenge, agar rotla (rotis madefrom bajra and jowar) hi nahin milega (what will we do with roads, power andwater supply if we don’t get food)?” asked Khimji Bambhania, 27, a farmer fromDugheri village.
“We have all beenvoting for the BJP for years, and now we will have to explain to the votersthat Saheb is no longer with the party,” Khimji said. “If we don’t, peoplemight end up voting for the BJP, assuming Saheb is still with the BJP. AndNirma is sure to come back if that happens.”
While it’s highly unlikely that Nirma will make any effortto resume its work again, BJP or no BJP, villagers’ suspicion about a comebackby the company has been heightened by remnants of the unfinished factory thatstill stands on a huge patch of pasture land in Padhiyarka village. What hasadded fuel to the fire is rumour that the BJP would exact revenge on thevillagers for supporting Kalsaria if the party’s candidate wins.
Officially, the BJP did not touch the sensitive topic duringits campaign, its attack being limited to the Congress and its “misrule” at theCentre.
