Wrap-up: BJP slips in the state of hills

Celebration time for Congress; Introspection for the BJP!

In one of the biggest setbacks to the Modi government and a huge loss of face for the BJP, the Congress led by Mr Harish Rawat won back Uttarakhand as the results of the floor test in Uttarakhand Assembly, revealed by the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

The top court asked the Centre to immediately reinstate Mr Rawat as chief minister and for the government to promptly recommend the revocation of President’s Rule.

All saffron fingers are now pointing towards BJP general secretary, Mr Kailash Vijayvargiya, with the humiliating defeat   denting his image as a "master strategist;" He is election in-charge in West Bengal, where the party is now certain of  another electoral drubbing.

As for Mr Rawat, as celebrations broke out at Dehradun, the BJP's political misadventure in Uttarakhand has not only boosted his image but also helped him cleanse the party of his rivals. Following dissidence in the state unit, the Congress high command was looking at the option of asking Mr Rawat to step down to keep the party united before the assembly polls in the state early next year. The BJP virtually revived and strengthened Mr Rawat. The nine disqualified Congress rebels are now holding parleys with the BJP to join the outfit.