The Gujarat Assembly election will define the course of national politics. While a win will take the BJP to new heights, a victory for the Congress will help it handle its allies, especially the Left parties, better. It will also be an indicator for the next Lok Sabha electionThe Congress and the BJP have high stakes in the Gujarat Assembly election.
The poll results are seen as an indicator for the future of the two national parties leading the UPA and the NDA. A win in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh will take the BJP to new heights. Similarly, for the Congress, it will be a turning point if it manages to win Gujarat after 12 years. Political pundits see the victory or defeat as a pointer to the Lok Sabha election.
The 2007 Gujarat Assembly election is quite different from the poll that was held in 2002. Five years ago, the NDA was ruling at the Centre. The RSS was fully backing Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Godhra was fresh in the mind of the people of the State as well as the nation. The BJP's allies were not too enthusiastic to campaign for Mr Modi. And pollsters predicted doom for the party in the State.
Yet, Mr Modi was able to win with a handsome majority. The Congress was unable to match his oratory, or the electoral management led by BJP leader Arun Jaitley. Above all, the Hindu-Muslim polarisation in Gujarat went against the Congress.
In 2007, things are quite different. The BJP-led NDA Government lost power in 2004 Lok Sabha election. The Congress-led UPA has been ruling at the Centre for the past three-and-a-half years. Mr Modi's 'arrogant' style of functioning has alienated him from the RSS. His popularity is on the wane within his own party.
The BJP has a leadership crisis at the national level. Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee is more or less retired from politics. Mr LK Advani wants to be the prime ministerial candidate. BJP president Rajnath Singh has not proved himself so far. The second-rung leadership, which includes Mr Modi, is still waiting for the generational change.
On the positive side, Mr Modi had been the Chief Minister for full five years. There have been no communal clashes since Godhra. His election speech today is on development and not on Gen Pervez Musharraf. He is seeking votes on his performance and is popular among the urban middle class.
If he wins the State for the BJP even with a less majority, he is bound to become the party icon and may move to national politics. The BJP, too, will get a morale booster after its recent humiliation in Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. The allies, too, will remain intact if the poll prospects improve, thus setting the trend for the Lok Sabha election.
What are the chances of the Congress in Gujarat? The party, which has remained out of power in the State for the past 12 years, needs to do better and improve in some key areas. Its strategists are hoping for a re-run of the anti-Modi campaign in 2004 Lok Sabha election, which saw the BJP lose strongholds like Amreli. The BJP could just win 14 out of 26 Lok Sabha seats.
The Congress is also hoping to gain from the internal squabbling in the BJP. It is hoping for some better showing in the tribal belt. The party is also trying to woo the two large support groups of Mr Modi -- Kohlis and Leuva Patels. Above all, the anti-incumbency factor may work in favour of the Congress.
One of the reasons for the Left parties to show restraint against the Congress is said to be the Gujarat election. These parties do not want to weaken the Congress in Gujarat by pulling out of the UPA Government at this juncture. The Communists are keen to get Mr Modi defeated. That is why despite all public statements, the Left parties are showing a softening posture.
The Congress, like the BJP, has concentrated on the Gujarat election for quite some time and has stationed observers in each district. Money and manpower are utilised to the full extent.
The Congress has even accommodated the rebel BJP candidates, which may or may not help the party. The biggest advantage for the Congress, however, is its strong Central leadership.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi is quite practical and knows that it's going to be real hard work to win the State.
The party is still licking its wounds from the humiliating defeat in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, despite the successful public meetings and road shows by Ms Gandhi and her son, Mr Rahul Gandhi. It will be a test for Mr Gandhi, the newly appointed AICC general secretary, to show that he can be a crowd-puller as well as a vote-catcher.
Many in the party think that the Congress can handle its allies better after a good showing in Gujarat and may call the bluff of the Left parties. There could even be a mid-term poll if things go the Congress way.
The Gujarat election is bound to change the course of national politics. The election result will be a political turning point not only for the Congress and the BJP, but also the prospective allies of the UPA and the NDA.