Bhopal: The BJP might have succeeded in saving its government in Gujarat but the narrow margin of its victory indicates that a tough electoral battle lies ahead for the ruling party in the assembly elections in the state next year. The BJP’s tally in Gujarat has slipped from 120 in the last polls to 99 – this when the party was claiming that it would garner 150-plus seats. ‘Abkee baar 200 par’ is the BJP’s battle cry for the Madhya Pradesh polls. But the Gujarat outcome shows that it would not be easy for the party to form its government for the fourth time in succession in the state.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national chief Amit Shah had campaigned hard in Gujarat. However, they will not spare as much time and energy for Madhya Pradesh. The state BJP will have to contest the polls on its own strength. Against this backdrop, the Gujarat outcome has sounded warning bells for the party in MP.
The BJP has lost the last two assembly by-elections in the state. Two more by-elections are due shortly and the prestige of both the parties is at stake in them. Moreover, the Congress leaders in the state are much more influential than their Gujarat counterparts. In that sense, the assembly elections will be a challenge for the Congress too.
The BJP’s victory in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh was celebrated at the state BJP office. The chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told the gathering that the victory was reflective of the people’s faith in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that the party is going to register historic wins in Madhya Pradesh and other states of the country. Chouhan also congratulated the Union minister Narendra Tomar, who was the election co-in-charge in Gujarat and state PR minister Narottam Mishra, who was in-charge for 26 seats for the victory. Silence descended on the PCC office after the results were announced. The PCC President Arun Yadav said that the BJP claim of winning 150 seats lies in tatters
Guj results to benefit Tomar, Mishra, Patwari
The poll outcome is bound to add a few inches to the political stature of Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who was co-in-charge of Gujarat elections and minister Narottam Mishra, who was given the responsibility for 26 seats in Saurashtra. Mishra’s name is in circulation for the post of the state BJP chief for quite some time now and he may get the prize assignment. Jitu Patwari, who was the election co-in-charge of the Congress, has inched closer to the Rahul Gandhi during the campaigning for the polls and he may also be rewarded with some important position in the future.
