News Aaj Ki Baat Aaj Ki Baat October 25 episode: 'Gujarat is heading for a tough contest'

Aaj Ki Baat October 25 episode: 'Gujarat is heading for a tough contest'

"Though Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani may claim that the contest is one-sided, I personally feel that BJP's position in Gujarat is not as strong as it used to be during Modi's rule. "

Aaj Ki Baat October 20 episode Aaj Ki Baat October 20 episode

With the Election Commission announcing the election schedule for Gujarat, the stage is now set for an engrossing showdown between the ruling BJP and the main opposition party Congress. 

The hopes of Congress leaders rest on two factors: one, Narendra Modi is no more the chief minister of Gujarat, and leaders like Anandiben Patel and Vijay Rupani are not as strong and popular in countering  the anti-incumbency factor, and two: the Congress, which finds itself weaker, is now relying on anti-BJP outfits like those of Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakore and Jignesh Mewani. Talks are on with NCP too. The Congress gameplan is to unite all anti-BJP forces on a single platform to give a tough fight to the ruling party. On the other hand, BJP is relying on its vast organisational network and the charisma of Narendra Modi. It is also counting on the strength of 12 ex-Congress MLAs who recently joined the party. BJP had never registered a win from these 12 seats in the past. 
 
Though Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani may claim that the contest is one-sided,  I personally feel that BJP's position in Gujarat is not as strong as it used to be during Modi's rule. When Modi was ruling Gujarat, BJP seemed to be the only major party in the state, and one big reason for this was the personal charisma of Modi. The majority of the people of Gujarat trusted Modi, and the latter knows this too. That is why Prime Minister Modi has visited Gujarat five times in the last one month. He knows that the people of Gujarat will vote for BJP only because of him. Also, it will be wrong to assume that Congress is nowhere in the picture and that the agitating Patidars are now back in the BJP camp. 
 
While BJP is going to seek votes in the name of development, it is also facing 22 years of anti-incumbency. For the first time in 22 years, BJP is going to fight without Modi as its chief ministerial candidate. Let's keep our fingers crossed and wait till December 18.

Watch the full episode here:

Aaj Ki Baat: Monday to Friday, 9 PM

India’s Number One and the most followed Super Prime Time News Show ‘Aaj Ki Baat – Rajat Sharma Ke Saath’ was launched just before the 2014 General Elections. Since its inception the show is redefining India’s super prime time and is numerically far ahead of its contemporaries.