The year was 1995. The BJP dethroned the Congress in the Gujarat panchayat elections for the first time. Rural Gujarat rallied behind the LK Advani-Keshubhai Patel-Narendra Modi-led BJP with hopes that it will provide drinking water and electricity. BJP won 18 out of the 19 district panchayats and 154 of the 183 taluka panchayats.
Since then, the BJP’s rise in Gujarat has been meteoric. It has ruled the state since 1998, giving it three chief ministers, most notably Narendra Modi.
But now, a new recipe is being brewed in the state, which many people often label BJP’s Hindutava laboratory. On Wednesday, the Congress won 24 of the 31 district panchayats and over 60 percent of the taluka panchayats in the 2015 Gujarat local body polls for the first time in two decades.
The Congress had poor state leadership, almost invisible candidates, a lacklustre poll campaign and anti-incumbency. The BJP brought with it an army of foot soldiers, a glitzy campaign, the development card, ‘friendly’ independent candidates and Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel holding a Modi mask. In the backdrop was 22-year-old Hardik Patel, watching the polls from behind bars.
So will fortune finally favour the Congress after all this time? It’s still too early to make definitve predictions. But going by just Wednesday’s results and extrapolating Congress’ district panchayat win to the 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections, the Congress can take home 97 seats out of 182, against the 57 it currently holds.