AHMEDABAD, March 3: The Bharatiya Janata Party today touched the 118-seat mark overshooting the required number for forming the government in Gujarat after a 18-month-long exile from the power. It has, though, not bettered its 1995 Assembly poll tally of 121 seats.Nevertheless, the BJP's tally coupled with its rivals' combined 64 seats allays whatever misgivings there were in the minds of the leaders who believed greatly in Machiavellian Shankersinh Vaghela's power of manoeuvering.
And, as Keshubhai Patel waits to be sworn in chief minister of a BJP government tomorrow evening, the saffron party has not only humbled the Congress on its home turf but virtually wiped out the ruling Rashtriya Janata Party from the political map of Gujarat. As results tickled in, it was abundantly clear that the electorate has very dumped Vaghela and his government. "He has paid for his sins" is the general refrain of BJP poll managers and leaders.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
