Poll postmortem: Congress unhappy with findings

All pre-poll calculations and strategies by Gujarat Congress seems to have melted in face of poll heat like Icarus’s wings.

The party’s post-poll analysis has turned out to be a disappointment for the state wing. For example it was being flaunted before elections that BJP workers may not campaign for the party as they were upset with Narendra Modi for fielding unknown faces. However, the autopsy reports reveal an ingenious strategy of BJP leaders pulling in Congress workers where they faced a staff crunch — albeit at a cost.

Dissident leaders who were denied tickets and their loyal supporters were available in abundance in Congress. This “sabotage”, as Congress sources term it, is expected to affect at least five seats. “Junagadh, Amreli, Banaskantha, Patan and Ahmedabad (West) have been adversely affected. We wouldn’t be surprised if our tally reduces by half to 6-8 seats,” a functionary said.

In an internal informal exit poll of sorts being carried out by both parties has revealed a tentative shift of 15% votes. “The question which way was it swinging. Did voters consider Manmohan Singh’s persona as economic expert and vote for a progressive image or did people remember inflation and the high prices they pay for essential commodities? These have emerged as the main concerns in urban and rurban electorate,” a poll pundit said.

In Junagadh, Punja Vansh and Chandrika Chudasama, both aspirants denied tickets, lent their force to BJP and remained inactive respectively. In Amreli, workers were missing in action. Gova Rabari spoiled Mukesh Gadhvi’s party in BK and Balwantsinh Rajput’s forces worked against Jagdish Thakore in Patan. The biggest setback was Ahmedabad West, when three city MLAs on the seat were missing in action.

Poll pundits who were busy crunching numbers before poll day were disappointed as reports of final turnout of voters and the lack of support of Congress workers trickled in. However, chief spokesperson Arjun Modhwadia maintained that party will up its tally from 12 to 14. “Gandhinagar may be a surprise. As anyone who voted for Advani last time says they have not voted for him this time,” he said.