Gujarat Congress president Jagdish Thakor on Saturday said there is nothing wrong with the people making assumptions the Opposition party will make a person from the Other Backward Class (OBC) the next chief minister if the party wins the state Assembly polls. Voting for 93 of 182 seats will be held in the second and final phase on December 5, campaigning for which ended on Saturday evening. In the first phase, 89 segments voted on December 1. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 8. Thakor’s comments came in response to rumours on social media that Congress is planning to give the CM’s post to an OBC person and make three deputy CMs to accommodate members of other castes.
He rubbished the ”social media discussions” but said, ”it is fair if the people in majority get their representation in the government if the party gets majority through their votes”.
In Gujarat, OBCs account for 54 per cent of the total population, more than any other class. OBCs, Scheduled Castes, and minorities are considered the traditional supporters of Congress.
”The Congress is forming the next government by winning more than 125 seats out of 182. Youngsters were flocking to our rallies in large numbers because they were angry with BJP’s policies. Even elderly citizens are giving their blessings to us,” Thakor told reporters.
Queried about the discussions on social media rumours, he said the party has officially announced nothing so far.
”Though people are discussing this issue on social media, we have not decided anything along those lines and nothing has been announced officially as yet. We are in a democracy and I see nothing wrong in people making assumptions that Congress will make an OBC the CM of Gujarat and appoint three deputy CMs under him,” Thakor said.
Thakor’s comments hold significance as the central and north regions of Gujarat, going to polls on December 5, have a significant concentration of OBC voters, including Thakor and Chaudhary communities on several seats.
The ruling BJP took a dig, saying the Congress has not clarified about the year (when they want to make OBC the CM).
”Every party decides their agenda. They said they will make (OBC CM), but in which year? They have not clarified that. So I can’t comment on that. But, I can say with confidence that no other party except BJP will be required to undertake this exercise (of choosing a CM) after this election,” Gujarat BJP president CR Paatil told reporters in Gandhinagar.
