AHMEDABAD: As the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections draws closer, the next destination for The New Indian team reaches Gujarat. The motives remain similar, talking to the general public and understanding what image they carry for the incumbent BJP and the opposition. The New Indian‘s Executive Editor, Rohan Dua, stops at Anand Fast Food Corner, a humble pav bhaji outlet in Ahmedabad known to be Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s favourite haunt for 30 years.
Now managed by two brothers, Sanjay Singh and Vivek Chandel, the food outlet, has been passed down from their father and grandfather. Singh told The New Indian, “Our shop has been here since 1917, started by our grandfather, when we were very young, Amit Shah used to come here to enjoy pav bhaji.”
The menu offers a variety of specialities, including Amit Shah’s favourite which he, accompanied by other senior leaders, enjoyed recently visiting the restaurant. Chandel recalls, “Shah used to be a corporator, and just yesterday, he and others were served pav bhaji, including, his son Jai Shah, Bhupendra Patel, and other senior leaders.”
Amidst exchanging childhood photos with Shah and discussing recent visits, the conversation naturally shifts towards the electoral landscape. When asked about BJP’s competition, Chandel said, “There is only one party: BJP, they will secure all 26 seats without any competition.”
He added, “Even when Modi was the CM of Gujarat, he lived like a common man and spearheaded numerous road and infrastructural developments including this area of Shashri Nagar and Pallav Cross Road, which once was rural, but now is well-developed.”
Venturing beyond Anand Fast Food Corner, the team interacted with other pav bhaji lovers Vipul Shah, a businessman, enjoying the pav bhaji with his wife Rashmi Shah, said, “Amit Shah will win, he has made SD highway bridge which is a very nice work he did.”
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Rashmi Shah cited women’s safety and children’s safety as major reasons. She stated, “It is very safe; we can even travel at 2 am without tension, and shops are also open for late.”
When asked about the significance of two leaders, Shah and Modi, transitioning from Gujarat to Delhi in government, Vipul said, “Not two, but three, Gandhiji was also from here; Gujarat leaders are the best.”
Another visitor, Rathore Megh Ji Bhai, said, “BJP will win. Amit Shah’s work is commendable; law and order are under control. Congress wasn’t very strict; the metro has arrived, and highway work is good.”
Beejal Kaushik Bora, a teacher, shared a similar sentiment and said, “I think all the work you see here is done by Modi. He has taken the country forward, motivating women, with support from Amit Shah, and their work of bringing the metro is best, it reduces our travel time.”
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Beejal Kaushik Bora, a teacher shared a similar sentiment and said, “ I think, whatever work you see here is done by Modi. He has taken the country forward, and given motivation to ladies. Amit Shah has also supported us, I think his best work is the metro because it has reduced our travel time.
The Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat has been a stronghold of the BJP since 1989. Advani held it for six terms, succeeded by Amit Shah in 2019. Shah won with 69.67% of the vote, defeating the INC’s CJ Chavda.
This time Congress has nominated Sonal Patel to contest against Shah, who is seeking a second term. Patel is Congress’s co-incharge of Maharashtra and former president of Gujarat Mahila Congress.