Why did Congress Perish in Gujarat?*
By Balbir Punj
Newspapers have explained in depth Bhartiya Janta Party’s smashing victory in Gujarat assembly polls. Commentators have rightly attributed the unprecedented win to Narendra Modi’s charisma, his special connect with the state, Party’s poll strategy and the state Government’s performance in the preceding years. Surprisingly there’s hardly any explanation for Congress’s pathetic performance in the state where it’s in opposition for the last 27 years.
Masses may have had reasons to favour or reject BJP- depending on their assessment of its performance while in office. But why did the voters punish Congress so harshly in Gujarat? Out of office for decades, Congress was in no position to annoy any section of voters. Still, it managed to alienate the electorate to the extent...
