BJP’s stunning success in Gujarat echoed in Himachal

Dec 29:  Propping up by the landslide victory in Himachal Pradesh less than a week after its stunning performance in Gujarat, BJP is now hoping the ‘wave of change’ that commenced in 2007 would culminate into 2008 with the expulsion of Congress led UPA government at the Centre. Besides retaining Gujarat, BJP wrested three states from Congress in this highly rewarding year for it.

BJP scored well in all Himachal regions riding a big anti-incumbency wave against the Virbhadra Singh government. BJP's chief ministerial candidate and Hamirpur MP, Prem Kumar Dhumal, is expected to take the oath of office on Sunday. The decision to project him instead of BJP's other Himachal veteran, Shanta Kumar, seems to have worked.

Congress could garner only 23 seats, while there was not much chance left for BSP, which bagged only one seat and the Independent s bagged the remaining three seats. But the BSP’s role in undercutting Congress support was significant, a factor that had earlier also proved decisive for Congress in Delhi’s municipal elections in April this year.

The Congress accepted its defeat in Himachal Pradesh, citing anti-incumbency as the single largest factor that went against it. Incumbent Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh retained Rohru in Shimla District winning by a margin of 14,000 votes.

By performing its best in the state till now, the BJP has returned to power after a gap of five years.

The success in Himachal Pradesh cannot be counted less significant in comparison to Gujarat as in one state BJP was sitting in opposition, while it was ruling in Gujarat. However, Gujarat election was not looking easy this time for Narendra Modi but his landslide victory again proved his charisma still worked in the state.

Winning somewhat becomes easy for a party ruling in the state and on the other hand it slightly proves difficult for a party sitting in opposition. Anti-incumbency wave could not prove decisive for Narendra Modi in Gujarat, while it’s riding high in Himachal against the Vidharva Singh government worked well for the Bhartiya Janata party. So, keeping that point in mind again Himachal Pradesh poll can’t be underestimated as considering by some political analysts.

Bhartiya Janata Party’s stunning success in Punjab and Uttarakhand this year echoed in Himachal Pradesh with convincing victory of the saffron party grabbing 41 seats out of 68 in the state. But, it’s not easy for the BJP as it will have to work hard for retaining its hold in three states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as election is due very next year.

As far as national general election is concerned which is due in 2009, but as the main opposition party is expecting as some ally of ruling UPA government that it might be held earlier. And so in view of keeping morale of party workers high the BJP leaders are already describing the trend as “NDA’s comeback trail” and “the beginning of the countdown for UPA’s exit.”

The Himachal victory is also significant as the party succeeded in uniting warring factions led by Prem Kumar Dhumal and Shanta Kumar. It is hardly to find such understanding among Congress leaders, whose record has been cutting leg of the candidate belonging to the same party.