Modi Sarkar wrestled yet another state from the Congress, also claiming back what is rightfully theirs. The party's twin victories saw it clinch almost two-thirds majority in Himachal Pradesh, and a close win in Gujarat, tightening its grip over the nation's politics.
The Bharatiya Janata Party won Gujarat for the sixth time, all thanks to Narendra Modi and his mass appeal. The Prime Minister was in the state for 15 days, holding 34 rallies in different areas, campaigning for development, war against corruption, and his principle philosophy of Hindutva. As much as Gujaratis take pride in the “son” they sent to New Delhi, it is, however, evident from the results that the NaMo effect is hit.
But a win is a win, and a defeat is, well, sour. Congress President Rahul Gandhi claimed moral victory in the polls, saying the results have dealt a massive blow to the ruling party. “Three-four months back, when we went to Gujarat, it was said that Congress cannot fight BJP. We did hard work for three-four months and you have seen the results and BJP has suffered a massive jolt,” he said. Gandhi said the people of Gujarat have given a message to the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the “anger that you have within yourself will not work and it will be defeated by love.” “A question has been raised at PM Modi’s credibility. Modi ji has a credibility problem,” he said.
The Congress party, under the leadership of its new president, gave a tough fight, managing to score 77 seats in the Gujarat State Assembly. The BJP failed to achieve its promised 150. Its majority with 99 seats can hardly be counted as a “political knockout”. For the first time since it rose to power in 1995, the party has less than 100 seats in the state. In three constituencies of Godhra, Dholka and Botad, Gandhi's party lost by margins as close as 258, 327, and 906 respectively. In the epicenter of the Patidar reservation agitation, Saurashtra-Kutch region, the BJP won 23 out of 54 seats and the Congress claimed 30.
The Congress has increased its vote share by 2.5 per cent from 38.9 per cent in 2012, to 41.4 per cent in 2017. The BJP, meanwhile, has increased its vote share by 1.2 per cent from 47.9 per cent in 2012 to 49.1 per cent in 2017. It even alarmingly lost the PM's home-town seat by a wide margin. Modi Sarkar saw fierce competition from the Opposition. Congress found a voice after merging loosely with critics of the government. One of the biggest thorns on BJP's side proved to be Hardik Patel, an over-night activist who by sheer luck and timing mobilised hundreds of thousands of Patidars against the PM and his government. This rebellion brought to light the topic of development. Vikaas gaando thayo che. Modi's people turned against him, and after almost two decades of Hindutva dominance, they were questioning the real rate of vikas.
City Patels in Saurashtra remain loyal to NaMo
The Patels' fight for quota left a lasting impression on the Gujarat elections. Out of 52 seats in a region where the Patidar population is over 20 per cent, BJP won 28 and Congress 23. An independent candidate won Lunawada seat. The Congress' strong performance in Saurashtra is also credited to the Patels, even though issues regarding agriculture also has a role to play. The community's aggression also may have alienated other communities, resulting in a lower number of Patidar MLAs. Forty four candidates won- 25 Leuva Patidars and 19 Kadva Patidars. Two Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convenors- Lalit Vasoya from Saurashtra and Kirit Patel from Patan, won from Dhoraji and Patan seats, respectively. However, BJP victories in Surat and Mehsana, Patidar strongholds, are proof that Hardik may not have the sweeping impact he boasts he has.
The 25 year old leader cried foul, blaming EVM tampering for his enemy's win. “I have been warning for three days now that a software company aligned with BJP has been tampering EVMs. There were many seats in Surat, Rajkot and Ahmedabad where BJP has won with a margin of 500 to 1,000 votes. This was made possible due to EVM tampering,” he said.
The world looks out for Gujarat as Modi's state puts up a show
Modi is a man of power and essence. He has made a mark in the international arena, creating ties with every country he visits and leader he meets. The world media had its eyes glued to the Gujarat elections, taking in consideration the Congress' “impressive” performance. The New York Times observed that PM Modi continued to be a “formidable political force”, adding, “But there may be some cracks”. UK's The Telegraph called the polls the closest political battle the Prime Minister had faced in recent times.
“The election in Gujarat was bitterly fought, with campaigning marked by some of the sharpest verbal duels seen in recent Indian elections.” It also commented on Modi's statement that the Congress was seeking help from Pakistan to influence voting. The Times stressed on the BJP's “might”, while the CNBC said, “India's voters bite back against Prime Minister Modi's economic reforms”.
Bloomberg published a report saying if the margin of the ruling government's victory were narrower, Modi could “resort to populist spending to boost support” before the Lok Sabha elections. It said such a move risked “widening India's already bloated budget deficit and pressure the battered bond market”.
A victory for common sense
Unfazed from the criticism, Modi flashed a victory sign after he arrived in the Parliament on Tuesday. The party continues to rejoice over the win. BJP leaders said the outcome of the polls is a vote for development and trust in the Prime Minister. Union Minister Rajnath Singh asserted that the BJP will form government in both, Himachal and Gujarat with a big majority. When asked if the results were a nod on the government's policies, he said, “Of course, it is an approval of the government.” Human Resources Development Minister Prakash Javadekar supported his statement, saying, “Development is the mantra of today's polity. And therefore, people are with Modiji.”
BJP Vice President Shyam Jaju said, “We have set a record in the history of the BJP by winning consecutive assembly polls... Anti-incumbency is not working there. The Prime Minister's popularity is intact. Amit Shah's strategy has worked.”
