If there is one district that determined the fate of the Gujarat election and the battle of prestige on Modi’s home turf, it has to be the trader-dominated district of Surat. Modi swept Surat in the 2012 Assembly polls, and Modi swept Surat today. But the Congress’ opportunity cost, and arguably their biggest blunder this election, lies between the lines.

In July this year, lakhs of traders, primarily from the textile industry, hit the streets to protest against the hasty imposition of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The government did not take kindly to the protests. The traders were lathicharged. The anger was mounting.

But at a time when the relationship between the traders and their party of choice was at its weakest, the Congress was nowhere to be seen. The elections were still five months away, after all. It wasn’t time yet to hit the ground and start the fight. Or so thought the Congress. And boy, were they wrong!

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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