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Victory sans Grandeur
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s dream of a Congress-mukt Bharat has received a setback and the verdict has debunked the myth of invincibility surrounding the party while demonstrating the limitations of a formidable electoral machinery. The metanarratives of caste, rural–urban divide and Hindu nationalism form the three leitmotifs of the recently concluded electoral battle in Gujarat. This election also became a referendum on Rahul Gandhi’s leadership.
The authors would like to acknowledge Ashwani Kumar and Shreyas Sardesai for their insightful comments.
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s dream of a Congress-mukt Bharat has received a setback and the verdict has debunked the myth of invincibility surrounding the party while demonstrating the limitations of a formidable electoral machinery. The metanarratives of caste, rural–urban divide and Hindu nationalism form the three leitmotifs of the recently concluded electoral battle in Gujarat. This election also became a referendum on Rahul Gandhi’s leadership.
