India, Dec. 9 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can be credited for bringing a tectonic shift in Indian politics. The Gujarat verdict has shown that development is now an emotive issue. The people in Gujarat cannot compromise on development. They rejected anyone who came to Gujarat to challenge the development model of the state. The people in Gujarat have given tight slaps on the faces of Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for questioning the development of Gujarat. The Gujarat verdict may prove to be a touchstone for Indian politics in decades to come.

Indian politics for the past few decades has seen religion and caste identities as emotive issues. The people have voted on caste lines. The people have in the past voted on religi...