The lotus bloomed for a third time in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, recorded a massive victory. Of the 230 seats, the BJP is set to win 163 seats, up from 143 in 2008.

The Congress, which had won 71 seats in 2008, could manage only 60. The Bahujan Samaj Party won four and independents, three seats.

Chouhan, who was expected to win but with a reduced margin, surprised everyone with his strong performance.

In his first reaction after the victory, the Chief Minister ignored BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, who had formally launched his party’s campaign with a huge workers’ rally in Bhopal on September 25, and chose to thank the people and the rank and file of the party for his impressive win.

BJP General Secretary in-charge Anant Kumar lauded the Madhya Pradesh model of development. Significantly, Modi draws his clout from his three terms as Gujarat Chief Minister.

Now, with Chouhan having similar claims and having a much better record in inclusive politics, political observers are of the opinion that he will emerge as a strong challenger to Modi in case the BJP needs allies to form the government after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

National ambitions

Chouhan’s national ambitions are no secret. Before Modi was named the party’s prime ministerial candidate, BJP leader L.K. Advani had tried projecting him as a possible nominee.

During the September 25 Bhopal rally, supporters kept chanting Chouhan’s name even when Modi and other party bigwigs were speaking.

What is significant about Chouhan’s victory in Madhya Pradesh is the fact that people had openly expressed their anger against his administration during campaigning, but were still willing to “forget and forgive” because of his own impeccable credentials.

Even though there was a new face from the Congress in Jyotiraditya Scindia, people found it hard to repose their faith in the party.

“Congress had become synonymous with bad roads, power shortage and poor water supply,” said one voter, referring to the 10 years of Congress rule under Digvijay Singh, before 2003. “Despite all his shortcomings, Shivraj has delivered on these fronts.”

Though Scindia managed to attract huge crowds at his rallies, he failed to enthuse party workers who were put off by his “haughty, royal attitude”.

For the Congress, the road ahead is long and arduous.

It’s a hat trick for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh and the Shivraj Brand has worked its magic there trouncing the Congress decisively. In Congress’s defeat there is also hidden a message for Rahul Gandhi: his handpicked chief ministerial face Jyotiraditya Scindia was rejected by the people there. Paradropped leaders are not welcome, he has been told clearly. There is a lesson for the BJP as well: its not Modi but the credibility of the local leader that works.