Gujarat elections 2012: Fate of Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh CM's at stake
href="http://www.indianexpress.com/assembly-elections/news/profile-shankersingh-vaghela/1047648" style="font-weight: bold;">Shankersinh Vaghela (8 per cent) and Shakti Singh Gohil (4 per cent) far behind. Even the Patel community opted for Modi as the chief minister of Gujarat, according to the survey.
What has worked for Narendra Modi? His development agenda, which analysts believe has turned anti-incumbency on its head.
THE MANIFESTOS
The manifestos of the two main rivals, BJP and Congress, are almost mirror images of each other with particular focus on basic institutions like health, education, housing, agriculture etc. If the BJP promises 50 lakh houses in 5 years, then the Congress promises 15 lakh – which is a 'result-oriented plan'.
In healthcare, Congress promises free life-saving medicines, free treatment for cancer, kidney and heart diseases. BJP will give free generic medicines and diagnostic services through Gujarat Medical Services Corporation.
The Congress will role out scholarships for the youth in education, and the BJP will support deserve students in higher studies. Both have special schemes to encourage education among girls and women.
And as campaigns go, while Modi has gotten personal with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul, national Congress leaders have refrained from bringing up 2002 – Sonia Gandhi had called Modi 'Maut ka Saudagar' in 2007, BUT his enemies have never stopped being stuck on 2002. Perhaps this is why the Congress has been unable to develop a proper political rhetoric that can counter a chief minister who has steadily secured the vote through a thriving economic model.
There is one thing niggling the BJP
