NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 99 of the 182 assembly seats in 2017 Gujarat assembly elections, its worst performance since 1995; the year also saw the Congress's best performance since 1985 the party won 77 seats. The majority mark is 92. The BJP has since, courtesy defections and by-elections, taken its strength in the assembly to a comfortable 111.
The 2017 elections took place against the backdrop of the violent agitation by Patidars demanding reservation in educational institutions and jobs, and from business communities suffering on account of teething problems in the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), and a significant sentiment against the incumbent that had been in power for 19 years at the time. Five years down the line, the context of the 2022 assembly elections - these will happen in two phases on December 1 and 5-is very different.
Political experts say the Patidar agitation has lost steam, that businesses have become accustomed to GST, and that the BJP has sought to counter anti-incumbency by replacing almost the entire cabinet in 2021 with Bhupendra Patel replacing Vijay Rupani as chief minister. "Most of the burning issues of last elections are not visible this time," said political expert Ghanshyam Shah.
This story is from the November 04, 2022 edition of Hindustan Times.
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This story is from the November 04, 2022 edition of Hindustan Times.
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