Former CM Anandiben Patel celebrated her 76th birthday on Tuesday in a slum near Sabarmati Ashram. Surprisingly, baring two or three BJP local leaders were with her during a day. Luckily the PM Narendra Modi gave her compliment through social media but no big name from Gujarat BJP turns up to give a compliment to a leader who was on the highest position in Gujarat a year and four months ago. Moreover, those who were believed to be the leaders from her camp were not given a ticket for the first phase of Gujarat polls, and chances of repetition cannot be neglected for the second phase also. Anandiben is hardly invited to any of the meetings held in presence of decision makers like Amit Shah, CM Vijay Rupani, Gujarat BJP chief Jitu Vaghani and others. On the other side, Anandiben Patel also maintaining the distance with the uppermost cadre of party in Gujarat these days. A close confident leader from Patel's camp says on condition of anonymity, "The BJP leadership is ignoring or sidelining Anandiben Patel these days. This indicates that she is losing gravity in the politics of Gujarat. The senior leaders of party do not take her in confidence while taking any decision or making any announcement. Of course, she is not the face of Gujarat polls but this is not the fair treatment she is mted with." "By nature, Anandiben Patel is very self-respecting personality and she would never surrender before anyone for the position, but this is kind of an insult to her. That is why she has maintained distance with another camp. We are just waiting for our turn to come," added the leader. On the other side, Anandiben seems non-challant to these factors. She follows the same routin what she followed when was the CM. She wakes up early in the morning at five and takes a 6km walk followed by a Yoga session every day. At nine in the morning, she is prepared for the work she has been assigned to the party. Talking to DNA, Anandiben said, "I am following the assignments given by my party. As I have decided to not to contest polls, I have been travelling across Gujarat. Recently I visited Bhavnagar, Kheda, Anand and other parts of the state. I take part in different conventions and meet the party functionaries in different places. I have no ambition but my goal is that party should win." "I am conducting the meeting of party workers at booth level and assess their preparations and these are the micro level functions which I look after. I do not decide my own what I will do, it is up to my party, " adds Anandiben. When asked about the ticket distribution and feeling of unrest among the leaders from her camp, Anandiben Patel's temperament boils at 100 degree temperature. She quips, "I never look at such things. This is all about the speculations of media. I look forward positively on every aspect and do not care much about such things. I also expect that you also should not give hype to such issue." Same remains the response when she is asked about the political career of her children Anar Patel and Shwetank Patel. A leader from her constituency who is believed to be very close to Anandiben Patel said, "When Anandiben Patel has decided to not to contest the polls, the party should understand that ticket should be given to her daughter Anar Patel. We cannot make the guess what exactly is going to be but Anar should get ticket." "Anar has great network in slums of Sabarmati constituency area as she works for poor people there. Dalits, Patels and other OBC community members have great regards for her and she is the best candidate. At least, the party should consider her because Anandiben has given a sacrifice," a leader added. Here, in her constituency Ghatlodia, there is an indirect tussle between Patel and Shah camp. Bhupendra Patel who is currently a chairman of Ahmedabd Urban Development Authority is believed to be front-runner in the race. Patel, again comes from the camp of Anandiben. While a local BJP leader from Shah's camp, Bipin Patel(Gota) has thrown a hat in the circle giving challenge to Bhupendra Patel.

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