INDIA’S ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday suffered stinging election defeats in three key states, which is now considered as a big blow to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of national polls next year. Political observers said it was a semi final match and the result for Modi was not satisfactory. Mr Modi will likely go head-to-head with Congress Party’s Rahul Gandhi for a second term in 2019, which is termed as final match. However, the Indian Premier twitted: “We accept the people’s mandate with humility.”
The BJP conceded defeat in both Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan while in Madhya Pradesh Congress came out as the largest party with 114 seats. Congress’s traditional ally BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) took 2 seats, pushing the alliance seat tally to 116 majority mark in the 230-seat state assembly. In Telangana and Mizoram States, the regional parties looked to be leading. The BJP at present rules 19 out of 29 Indian states either outright or in alliance with local parties. Congress rules just two states, including one in partnership. But the latest results are a blow to the image of Mr Modi.
It’s now clear that, the main reason behind BJP’s apparent declining support due to growing rural distress and unemployment rates in India. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “We defeated the BJP today; we will defeat them in 2019 too. Mr Modi sold a vision to the country five years ago. India had the patience to give them five years. But they have failed.”
The BJP’s election defeat was nothing astonishing. The opponent Congress Party ruled India for years when there was a practice of moral values with the historical extent of Indian culture. But BJP led by Modi took a U-turn by encouraging the religious fundamentalism. But majority of voters, the people of grassroots level and farmers, did not accept his policy. On the eve of Parliament’s winter session, as many as 21 Indian opposition parties gathered for their biggest meeting and called for a united fight to defeat the BJP in final match. They will demand a joint parliamentary committee probe into the Rafale deal, which may complicate BJP’s move about triple Talaq Bill or construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
That means, Mr Modi will have to cross hurdles to win next election for second term. Really, it’s not a very pleasant time for BJP government.
The BJP conceded defeat in both Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan while in Madhya Pradesh Congress came out as the largest party with 114 seats. Congress’s traditional ally BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) took 2 seats, pushing the alliance seat tally to 116 majority mark in the 230-seat state assembly. In Telangana and Mizoram States, the regional parties looked to be leading. The BJP at present rules 19 out of 29 Indian states either outright or in alliance with local parties. Congress rules just two states, including one in partnership. But the latest results are a blow to the image of Mr Modi.
It’s now clear that, the main reason behind BJP’s apparent declining support due to growing rural distress and unemployment rates in India. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “We defeated the BJP today; we will defeat them in 2019 too. Mr Modi sold a vision to the country five years ago. India had the patience to give them five years. But they have failed.”
The BJP’s election defeat was nothing astonishing. The opponent Congress Party ruled India for years when there was a practice of moral values with the historical extent of Indian culture. But BJP led by Modi took a U-turn by encouraging the religious fundamentalism. But majority of voters, the people of grassroots level and farmers, did not accept his policy. On the eve of Parliament’s winter session, as many as 21 Indian opposition parties gathered for their biggest meeting and called for a united fight to defeat the BJP in final match. They will demand a joint parliamentary committee probe into the Rafale deal, which may complicate BJP’s move about triple Talaq Bill or construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
That means, Mr Modi will have to cross hurdles to win next election for second term. Really, it’s not a very pleasant time for BJP government.
