Shock Defeats: What Happened In Gujarat In The 2004 And 2009 Lok Sabha Elections?

Worse Than Expected: Analysing BJP's Gujarat Tally Of 2004 And 2009

Dear Reader, 

The 2000's was the decade when I was getting introduced to both the history and contemporary state of Indian politics and also exploring its micro-details by my own self. It was also the decade when news began to be disseminated in the digital format. My great demand was met with a great supply. 

One of the outcomes of this demand-supply equilibrium, in early 2004, was me explaining to anyone who would care to listen that why Vajpayee would return as the Prime Minister that summer. I think to this day, many people who share a similar worldview have not been able to reconcile themselves with his shock defeat that May. 

One question naturally followed--what happened? 

If you go into the details, it emerges that the 2004 loss nationally was the sum of many big and small losses in the states. None perhaps as shocking as the one in Gujarat. 

With Narendra Modi as CM, the BJP could only win 14 of the 26 seats in the state. The Congress won the remaining 12. 

Things weren't better even in 2009, still with Modi at the helm. The BJP won 15, and the Congress 11. 

What explained this sub-par performance of the BJP in Narendra Modi's home state? 
Venu Gopal Narayanan takes up this question here. 
Until next time. 

--
Arush Tandon, 

Swarajya