Tables Are Turning Quite Fast for the Congress in Gujarat

For the first time in two decades, the BJP’s hold over Gujarat seems to be wavering.

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi being presented a turban by the supporters during a road show in Banaskatha, Gujarat.

(Photo: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state, Gujarat, is all set to go to polls in December. Both the Congress and the BJP are leaving no stone unturned to woo voters in the state, which has been a BJP bastion for over two decades.

A pre-poll survey, conducted by the Center for the Study of Developing Societies in Gujarat in August, showed a voter share of 29 percent for the Congress and 59 percent for the BJP.

However, a second survey conducted in November shows that the winds may be blowing in the other direction. The second survey pegged the BJP’s vote share at 47 percent, with the Congress trailing close behind at 41 percent.

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Sanjay Kumar, Director of Center for the Study of Developing Societies spoke exclusively to The Quint, explaining the reason behind the turning tides. Kumar said the November survey comes at a time when election fever has taken over the voters. The Congress has gained a lot of momentum in the last two months of campaigning, he says.

According to Kumar, the BJP may face the brunt of the traders’ angst against demonetisation and GST. The youth of the state are also enraged over the BJP’s failure to provide jobs. Rising atrocities against Dalits is yet another major drawback for the BJP in the state, Kumar says.

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Video Editor: Vishal Kumar