Smriti Irani: BJP hit the ball out of the park in the Gujarat elections

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has romped home in Gujarat for the sixth record time but the victory has been uneasy after a bruising battle with a resurgent Congress under Rahul Gandhi's new avatar. The issue of development, which was Rahul's main ammo in attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the hustings, is staring at the BJP despite the win.        

According to sources, the saffron party could appoint a new Chief Minister despite Vijay Rupani beating his Congress rival Indranil Rajguru in Rajkot West. The party wants a CM who, if not as popular as Modi, has a strong appeal with the public, can fulfill the promises made to the electorate and turn a disparate-looking BJP into a cohesive force, the sources added.