Out of jail, Narendra Modi's man Amit Shah lords over Naranpura

Patel, an orthopaedic surgeon, was BJP MLA in 2002 but was refused nomination for 2007 polls.

He remained in the saffron party but switched over to Congress just before the current elections.

"Jeetubhai is a man of compassion. He does not believe in destructive politics. His supporters too are educated people who have their own work to do before they come here," says Som Bhai, who prefers to introduce himself as a campaigner for Jeetu Bhai rather than Congress, explaining the reason behind the place presenting a deserted look.

Jeetu Bhai himself, when asked why the dominant Kadva Patel community is not backing him, says,"I don't believe in caste or communal politics. But people should choose their representative as carefully as they choose a groom for their daughters".

"Jeetu Bhai's attack against Amit Bhai is unacceptable. It will definitely go against him (the Congress candidate)," says Jignesh Pandya, a teacher.

Amit Shah, who is credited with wresting control of various cooperative banks, dairy cooperative societies and even cricketing bodies from Congress, had won the 2007 polls from Sarkhej seat by a massive margin of over 2.35 lakh votes trouncing Congress' Shashikant Patel. He had earlier bagged the seat by handsome margins of over 1.32 lakh and 1.58 lakh votes against Congress candidates in 1998 and 2002 assembly elections. After the delimitation exercise, Sarkhej was trifurcated into Naranpur, Vejalpur and Ghatlodia constituencies.

That Shah's bungalow at Naranpur is no less than a pilgrimage for his followers is evident when Hemang Bhai says "even lord Shiva would have lost this election against Amit Bhai. "

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