Overview
Amit Shah said on 13 October 2026 that the Congress will suffer its fourth consecutive loss in the Lok Sabha elections of 2029, while the NDA will return to power with a large majority. His remarks came after the BJP secured a decisive victory in Gujarat’s local body elections.
Key Developments
- The BJP won 90 of 104 seats in Gujarat’s municipal elections, including 38 of 44 seats in Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation.
- In Rajasthan, the BJP captured 90% of Municipal Corporation seats, 66% of Municipal Council seats and 65% of Municipality seats.
- In Tripura’s Village Committee polls, NDA parties together won 4,320 seats and secured 77.5% of the vote, while Congress managed only 14 seats.
- Shah criticised SIR allegations raised by Rahul Gandhi, asking if the BJP’s Gujarat win was also due to SIR.
- Shah warned the Congress against “negative politics” and urged it to reconnect with voters in farms, villages, hills and riverbanks.
Important Facts
The Congress has not won a Gujarat election since 1985 (41 years). It has been out of the Chief Minister’s office in Tripura for 33 years and in West Bengal for 54 years. In recent by‑elections, the party failed to win any seat, while the BJP recorded large margins in Assam, West Bengal, Puducherry and other states.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) performed poorly, forfeiting deposits in most contested wards in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Exam Relevance
Understanding the dynamics of local body elections is crucial for GS‑2 (Polity) as they reflect grassroots support for national parties. The discussion on SIR highlights the role of the Election Commission and the importance of electoral roll integrity, a frequent UPSC topic. The decline of the Congress and the rise of the NDA illustrate party system evolution, coalition politics, and the impact of political communication—areas covered in GS‑2.
Way Forward
For the Congress, the immediate task is internal introspection: revamp leadership, build a genuine grassroots network, and address misinformation without resorting to “negative politics”. For aspirants, tracking these developments helps in answering questions on electoral trends, coalition dynamics, and the functioning of democratic institutions.