For Congress, it is not like the life and death question. But when it comes to BJP it is like semifinals to them. Modi has to win to continue as PM and run up to the 2019 elections.
It is more than a prestige issue for both Modi and Shah who are local here. This could explain the PM’s over-the-top rhetoric in recent days: if he loses Gujarat, his hold on his party and government would weaken without question.
It could be a neck to neck fight with a slight improvement for the Congres, but more or less the BJP will scrape through.
If the Congress loses in another landslide, it would be a grave setback for Rahul Gandhi at the start of his AICC presidency.
A close defeat would be a decent start, but a victory would set him soaring and immediately make him a viable alternate for Modi at the national level.
The stakes are high for both sides, may the best party win.
U.Srinivas
Editor
