Gujarat result: 5 factors behind Congress' worst show, AAP's failure to dent BJP

With political parties beginning to prepare for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, all eyes were on how the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress will perform in Gujarat.

The electorally important state threw up a politically significant result, albeit not surprising, if exit polls were to be believed. The Congress gave its worst performance ever in the state, and the Aam Aadmi Party was limited to single digits.

But how did the BJP manage to decimate both parties in such comprehensive fashion?

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed only a handful of rallies in Gujarat as compared to over 40 in 2017. Also the Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra began in September, but didn't touch Gujarat, where it could have motivated the cadre.

On top of this, the Congress struggled with infighting and defections which weakened its campaign. The big faces of the anti-BJP narrative in 2017 - Hardik Patel and Alpesh Thakor - quit the Congress as the party floundered.

Meanwhile, new entrant AAP rose at the Congress' cost. This was visible in the vote shares as Congress' share fell, while BJP's increased.