Assembly results 2022: BJP wins Gujarat, Cong Himachal; AAP becomes Nat'l party

Ahmedabad/Shimla/Hyderabad: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has retained Gujarat with a projected brute majority of over 150 seats in the 182 seat Assembly drubbing its nearest rival Congress to bare minimal two digit figure and stopping the new entrant Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to single digit figure.

Congress too has a reason to be jubilant with its victory in Himachal Pradesh where they had unseated BJP as per the norm of alternate governments being chosen by the voters since 1985. It can be said the grand old party has kept in with the trend and registered its first electoral win after a losing spree of two years except for its coalition partner DMK winning in Tamil Nadu last year.

AAP's entry helps BJP achieve brute majority

Gujarat contest which remained bi-polar for at least 3 decades has become three-cornered with the entry of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Buoyed by its victory in Delhi MCD polls on Wednesday, the Kejriwal's party was looking to finish second after the saffron party but ended up third bagging nearly 13 per cent.

"Very few parties enjoy national party status, our young party is one of those now," an upbeat Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said. Technically, the Gujarat contest helped the party achieve 'National party' status from the EC as it now it fulfils the criteria of two legislators in four states. AAP now has two governments- Punjab and Delhi, besides having 5 MLAs in Gujarat and 2 in Goa.

The BJP retained power in the state for the seventh consecutive term and it firmed up Modi's bid for a third consecutive term as PM in 2024. Modi led the BJP poll campaign, addressing around 30 rallies and road shows in the state while his cabinet colleague Amit Shah camped in the state for nearly two months, micromanaging the campaign and election strategy. BJP-ruled states' chief ministers including Yogi Adityanath, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Pramod Sawant hit the campaign trail along with almost all the Union ministers.

For the Congress, the reliance on 'silent campaign' which Modi once adviced his loyal vote bank not to fall prey for proved costly in Gujarat. While top leaders of the party were engaged in the Bharat Jodo Yatra undertaken by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the party was banking only on door-to-door campaign. Rahul squeezed time from his foot-march to address two rallies in Gujarat. Congress vote share dipped to about 27 percent from 41 percent in 2017.

Congress laps up must-win Himachal, credit Priyanka

Congress romped to power in Himachal which is seen as a precursor to attempt at the Centre with its Priyanka Gandhi leading the campaign in the Hill state. Congress leaders credit Gandhi's campaign for the win. Yet, she will have a tough time in helping the party high-command picking the Chief Minister candidate.

Modi's attempt at breaking the anti-incumbency by harping on whether the convention will change, not the government did not cut ice with the voters who had more pressing issues. Another factor which the saffron party was banking on was higher women turnout which helped the party romp to power in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand did not work.

Congress asserted that the voters have decided on the fundamental issues of price rise, joblessness, the old pension scheme, and other challenges of life and livelihood faced. The high-stakes election for Congress ended its two years losing spree and adds one State to its kitty. Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh where Congress is in power are due for elections in 2023. Congress leaders are enthused about the party's revival which they see in Himachal results.