The “son of the soil for prime minister” card seems to have worked effectively in Narendra Modi’s home state.
The Modi-led BJP dealt a deadly blow to the already defunct Gujarat Congress, not leaving even a single seat to the opposition. Swept away were three Central ministers and a veteran leader, Shankersinh Vaghela. Importantly, besides a whitewash, it was the margin of victory that humiliated the Congress even more.
Political observers point out that the win in 26 seats hasn’t come as a surprise since the “Gujarati for prime minister” factor weighed heavily on the minds of voters. After Morarji Desai, this is the first time a Gujarati politician will take the role of the prime minister.
Riding on those sentiments, the BJP created a record of sorts. Many candidates won by a staggering number of votes, with Modi himself capturing the Vadodara constituency with a record margin.
The Modi wave also swept through the tribal-dominated Central Gujarat region, where the Congress had managed to win in 2009.
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