Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh election results: Winners & losers

Winners

BJP

A victory in Gujarat was never really in doubt but the scale of the win is absolutely astounding. Its all the more impressive as it comes after 27 consecutive years in office. A split in opposition votes may have played a part but a near-5% rise in vote share is no sneezing matter, taking the party over the halfway mark.


Narendra ModiCritics will point to the loss in Himachal Pradesh to argue that the Modi magic has its limits but it could well have been far worse in the hill state but for the PM. His enduring appeal ensured that the BJP was not embarrassed and returned a decent tally in a state which everyone said had slipped out of the party's grasp. As for Gujarat, the state can't have enough of Modi and gave him a resounding endorsement. His star continues to shine the brightest.

Amit Shah
Another feather in the cap for BJP's election mastermind. When he gave the call for 'Mission 150' in 2017 and fell drastically short, there were snide remarks but he proved it this time that he knew what he was talking. A best-ever show in Gujarat by any party is a mighty milestone in his poll-winning spree. The loss in Himachal was overseen by party president JP Nadda and won't be laid at his door.


AAP

It might have led everyone to believe that it was a serious contender in both Gujarat and Himachal but it was never really in the race in either state. It has achieved its primary aim of securing national party status for itself after its Gujarat performance and Arvind Kejriwal will be pleased with the 13% vote share in the state. The 1% vote share in Himachal will be a dampener but, taken with the Delhi municipal poll win, AAP will be satisfied with its return in this round of polls.


Losers
Congress

The Himachal victory can hardly be a salve for the spectacular implosion in Gujarat. A loss was pretty much on the cards but nobody saw the wipeout coming. What will dismay its depleting support base is the refusal to join the fight where it matters. This was an election that called for a spirited challenge, more so as AAP had entered the fray and would have primarily targeted its vote bank, but the party was nowhere to be seen. A dismal downing of arms doesn't bode well for the future.


Rahul Gandhi
His supporters will say he was not in the picture but that exactly is the point. He may not be the party president but he remains the one who calls the shots and his hands-off approach belies belief. The Congress had done remarkably well the last time around and frittering away that support by sheer inaction speaks of a lack of political smarts, and the blame surely has to rest with Rahul and his advisors.