[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Panelists feel that poll results have ensured strong opposition in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh
After the BJP win in the two states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, it needs to be seen how parties shall be gearing up for the next phase of elections, scheduled in eight states in 2018, and also the general election in 2019. Anchorperson Anant Tyagi took up this issue at APN’s popular debate Mudda with panellists Ashok Goyal of the BJP, Nawab Malik of the NCP, Dr Hilal Naqvi of the Congress, Ravindra Singh, political expert, and Govind Pant Raju, consultant, APN.
Congratulating the BJP, Hilal Naqvi said Modi took up the election as a personal challenge and played upon the Gujarati identity. He said Modi compromised with corruption, and a case in point was the controversy surrounding Amit Shah’s son, Jay Shah’s assets. “There was no focus on development in Gujarat; it was only the Gujarati pride that Modi played upon. The results proved that Modi magic is broken and neither money nor muscle power could help Modi much. Despite the BJP’s win, the opposition performed much better though Rahul Gandhi was alone in the fight against Modi,” he said.
Asok Goyal said that the two victories showed that it was a vote for the politics of performance. “Both states voted for development, and the vote percentage of the BJP has gone up. It is clear that in Himachal, people rejected Congress outright.”
Nawab Malik said that Modi magic is over and the BJP graph is trending downwards. “The going is tough for the BJP now.”
Ravindra Singh pointed out that virtually the entire cabinet was in Gujarat and despite the presence of BJP CMs, the Congress was able to break the vote. “Rahul was alone though the BJP stood together as a strong force,” he said. To this, Goyal pointed out that the BJP is a cadre-based party and everybody is a karyakarta which is why all the BJP stalwarts went to Gujarat to ensure win.
Raju said that the BJP was able to beat the anti-incumbency factor in Gujarat for the sixth time in a row and that’s a big development.
Naqvi said the BJP used money power. “Hotels in the state were over-booked by the BJP, and that’s why we could not win. It needs to be investigated where all this money was coming from,” he added.
Raju said that the Congress should have focused on development instead of the line it was taking that vikas pagal ho gaya hai (development has gone to the dogs). The Congress should have stated what it wants to do in Gujarat, because after all, no one can say that the Congress coffers were empty, and it could not do anything, given that it has been a ruling party in the centre for decades.
Nawab Malik wanted to know what exactly is the Gujarat model. He said child labour is rampant in Gujarat, and labour laws are poorly implemented. He said that BJP could ensure victory only because of a unified front.
Ravindra Singh said that both states have ensured a strong opposition.
Naqvi said now Rahul Gandhi has a lot of challenges, if the Congress wants to thwart the BJP, as the BJP can make below-the-belt personal remarks, and so on.
Goyal said the Modi magic is all about development, power, toilets, and zero balance jan dhan accounts.
-Compiled by Niti Singh Bhandari
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