By executing Afzal Guru and Ajmal Kasab within a span of nearly three months, the Congress has sought to knock out the BJP on the issues of terrorism and national security.
Though the BJP had made the delay in the hanging of Guru and Kasab its propaganda plank and one of the key poll subjects since 2009, the party had failed to derive any political or electoral benefits by raking up these issues. Coming barely days ahead of the crucial budget session of parliament, the Congress has also taken the sting out of the BJP's repeated accusations that the ruling party was soft on terror and played minority-appeasement politics for electoral gains.

"We have sent the message to the world that we cannot tolerate terrorism at any cost. If anybody tries to commit any act of terror, he will be punished. Our government and people have zero tolerance for terrorism," party spokesman Rashid Alvi said.

As the UPA government is all set to present its last full budget before the next Lok Sabha polls, the Congress that has been facing heat over the issue of corruption and price rise is hoping that the two back-to-back executions will turn the tide in its favour ahead of the 2014 general elections.