Patel's visit was intended to launch the BJP hardsell for the Lok Sabha elections. But people were more interested in knowing how and when they would start getting sufficient drinking water. The local media grilled him and leaders of all important local lobbies and institutions sent a delegation to him, demanding urgent measures to improve water supply.

As the campaign picks up pace and Patel travels to other parts of the state, he may find that there are others - including those who suffered during the anti-minorities violence - whose priorities are different.

The violence at Dangs made international headlines and the violence at Bardoli, Randhikpur, Sanjeli, Idar and Ahmedabad,though less publicised, also left them wounded.

Vajpayee commands tremendous personal goodwill, even among people who are not in favour of the party and Kargil has only burnished his public image. However, issues like the water crisis in Saurashtra and the anti-minority violence, affect the people directly and are going to undercut the national agenda, even in a Lok Sabha election, says political commentator Siddharth Bhatt.

The water crisis in Saurashtra is particularly ominous for the BJP. The region is a BJP stronghold - the party won all seven seats in the last elections. But water is an emotional issue; many towns get drinking water only for a few hours every week. If what's left of the monsoon doesn't fetch good rain, the BJP could pay a heavy price for its neglect of the problem.

The anti-minority violence chipped away further at the party image. `There is a strong possibility that for the first time after the Babri Masjid demolition, the Muslims will gravitate towards the Congress,' sayspolitical analyst Dinesh Shukla.

Although the alienation of Christians may not mean much because they are a microscopic minority, the impact of anti-Christian violence on Dalits and Adivasis - the communities from which neo-Christians come - can upset the BJP's electoral arithmetic, says Shukla. `Of course, anti-minority violence also tends to consolidate the Hindus (who form the BJP's base).'

State Congress president C D Patel says they will make the performance of the state government, as well as the Centre, their main election plank.

`If the Centre slept while the Pakistani intruders crept into Kargil, the state government failed to ensure the security of minorities, curb illegal activities of members of the Sangh Parivar, remained unresponsive to the cyclone victims, drinking water needs of Saurashtra, and ignored the development of the state,' says Patel, whose party could win only seven of the 26 seats in 1998.

Patel points out that the BJP is yet to act on several promises it made in 1998:revising the royalty on crude, undertaking upgradation of the railways in Saurashtra in a big way, and declaring the Sardar Sarovar project as one of national importance.

Says Achyut Yagnik, a social activist, `Mamata Banerjee managed a special railway package for Bengal, but Gujarat got nothing. Chandrababu Naidu received special assistance for cycle relief in Andhra Pradesh, but not Gujarat. It appears no one listens to Gujarat although the Union Home Minister is from the State'.

The CM has explanations for everything. `Funds won't be a handicap for the development of railways in Saurashtra. Cyclone assistance could not come because most of the money meant for rare and severe calamities had been spent. The issue of crude royalty affects a number of states and a decision about Gujarat could not be taken in isolation,' he says, pointing out that the BJP was in power for only 13 months.