BJP sweep in four India state polls cements position in national politics

New Delhi: India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won key state elections on Thursday cementing its position in national politics.

In the battleground state of Uttar Pradesh, the BJP won 273 seats out of 403, far more than needed for a majority. The northern state is the country’s most populous and considered a political bellwether. It sends more legislators to Parliament than any other state and was key to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s thumping victories in previous national elections.

Terming dynastic politics a problem for democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, said that he is not against any family but is concerned about democracy instead and expressed confidence in the “sunset” of such parties in the future.

Addressing the party workers at the BJP headquarters after the party’s impressive performance in four states’ Assembly elections, Modi said: “I am not against any family, neither do I have any personal enmity with anyone. I am concerned about democracy. I told the people how dynastic politics has harmed their states and taking them back. I am glad the people have understood this and voted to strengthen the power of democracy.”

The Rashtriya Lok Dal, which contested the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in alliance with the SP, has won seven seats so far and is leading in one constituency, whereas the BJP’s ally Apana Dal (Sonelal) has won six seats and is leading in five constituencies.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is limited to just one seat from where it is leading so far.

The Congress has won only two seats while the Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik) has managed two seats in Uttar Pradesh.

With its thumping victory in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP showed it retains popular support. Now, these results make the BJP the favorite to win the next national election in 2024.

The results from the state indicate a “triumph” for the BJP, said Nalin Mehta, author of “The New BJP,” a recent book on the party and Modi. The party’s model of welfare - direct benefits transfers and providing free food grains to people during the pandemic - helped it “overcome the stresses of anti-incumbency,” Mehta said. “The broad social coalition across caste and class that powered BJP’s victories since 2014 has not only remained intact, but deepened its roots.”

Aside from Uttar Pradesh, elections were held in four other states, three of which were also ruled by the BJP. The party retained majority in the smaller states of Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa.

AAP wins in Punjab

In the agrarian state of Punjab in northern India, the Aam Aadmi (Common Man) Party, or AAP, won handsomely over the incumbent Indian National Congress. With its victory in Punjab, the AAP, which controls the Delhi capital region, became the first regional party to capture power in more than one state in decades.

The party won 92 of the 117 seats of the legislative assembly.

Commenting on the party’s performance in Punjab, Raghav Chadha, a leader of the AAP, told New Delhi Television that his party will be the “national and natural replacement” of the Congress party.

Bhagwant Mann, the party’s pick for the top post, is all set to become the next Chief Minister.

The ruling Congress, which won 77 seats in 2017, managed to win only 18 seats with most of its stalwarts facing like Chief Minister Charanjit Channi and state party chief Navjot Singh Sidhu faced humiliating defeat from their respective strongholds.

Interestingly, the BJP and its previous alliance partner the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) failed in securing even a double-digit tally.

The BJP, which had won three seats in 2017 when it had contested in alliance with the SAD, secured only two seats, while SAD won four seats. The other won one seat.

BJP wins 20 seats in Goa

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which fell one seat short of the majority figure in Goa is set to retain power in the state with the help of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak (MGP) and Independent candidates.

The BJP emerged as the single largest party in Goa winning 20 seats in the 40-member state assembly. Congress finished second with 11 seats and the Independent candidate bagged three seats. Two seats went to Maharashtrawadi Gomantak (MGP) tally and Revolutionary Goans Party and Goa Forward Party (GFP) got one seat each.

According to Election Commission, BJP got 33.31 per cent vote share followed by Congress (23.46 per cent), MGP (7.60 per cent), Aam Aadmi Party (6.77) and Trinamool Congress (5.21 per cent).

Accepting defeat in Goa, Congress leader P Chidambaram said that the Congress lost by a ‘very small’ margin. “We accept the verdict of the people of Goa. Our candidates fought bravely, despite several obstacles... People have voted BJP to power and we accept that. In several constituencies, we lost with very small margins,” said Chidambaram while addressing a press conference.

“Split in votes among various parties ended up in our numbers being less than what we had hoped for...BJP won by a little over 33 per cent of votes, remaining votes got divided”, he added.

Uttarakhand

In Uttarakhand, the BJP has won 40 seats and is leading in seven others, while the Congress has managed only 16 seats and is leading in three constituencies.

The BSP won a single seat in the state and leads in one constituency, whereas one Independent candidate has won and another is leading in Uttarakhand till 8 pm.

Manipur

In the 60-member Manipur Assembly, the ruling BJP retained power by winning 32 seats, while the Congress could bag only five seats.

The Janata Dal(United) won six seats in Manipur, whereas the Kuki People’s Alliance won two, Naga People’s Front five, National People’s Party six and three seats went to Independent candidates.