Even before the schedule of the coming Assembly elections in Gujarat is announced, the ruling BJP, on Wednesday, got a big boost with the party’s bulldozer crushing both its rivals, the Congress and the Aam Admi Party (AAP), in the Delhi Municipal Corporation polls.

Amid the ruling party’s relentless preparation for the Assembly polls, for which the BJP is leaving no stone unturned and taking no chances, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath is expected to visit the state in May. Since March, he has emerged as a star campaigner of the BJP and the party had announced to invite him to Gujarat.

In fact, the Yogi has emerged as the third most important leader in the BJP after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah. Adiyanath has had a religious connection with Mehsana, the home district of the Prime Minister, where a shrine related with the Gorakshnath Peeth of Gorakhpur exists, of which the Yogi is the chief.

Although the BJP did not celebrate the Delhi victory in view of the Naxalite attack at Sukma in Chhattisgarh claiming lives of 26 CRPF jawans two days ago, the party leaders seemed happy with the showing in the national capital where the AAP and the Congress were pushed far behind to second and third spots, respectively, as results poured in.

That the ruling BJP is getting ready for snap polls in Gujarat any time now became clear on Tuesday when the state government, led by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, transferred as many as 45 IAS officers, including 13 district collectors and 12 District Development Officers (DDOs).

These include district collectors of five key tribal-dominated districts of Banaskantha, Dangs, Mahisagar, Narmada and Tapi, which have mostly been returning Congress candidates to the Vidhan Sabha over the years. Interestingly, the Congress had recently launched a month-long awareness campaign in tribal areas of Gujarat, its traditional bastion, to reclaim support of its voters. Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi is set to address a tribals’ rally in Dediapada, Narmada district, on May 1, the Foundation Day of Gujarat.

BJP sources said that, from May 1, State BJP President Jitu Vaghani, all the MPs, MLAs and other office-bearers will go to 47,799 polling booths across Gujarat for 15 days to woo the voters. BJP President Amit Shah will also attend the drive for three days.

On the other hand, both the Congress and the AAP seem to be in disarray with intra-party squabbling and lack of focus, besides leadership issues. While the Congress is struggling to decide its next Chief Ministerial candidate in Gujarat, the AAP appears to have virtually disappeared from political scene, except some social media activity. Other political parties, like the NCP and the JD(U), which do not count for much in Gujarat, are yet to put their own houses in order.

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