Modi wave drowns Congress in Haryana, falls short in Maharashtra

It was a Saffron Sunday after the BJP under the charismatic leadership of prime minister Narendra Modi and ‘sangathanatmak kaushal’ (organisational skills) of party president Amit Shah once again proved its mettle as an indomitable electoral force. It emerged as the single largest party in the politically-crucial state of Maharashtra and gained majority in Haryana. The party, after the results, at its parliamentary board meeting on Sunday evening decided to form governments in both the states even as back channel talks with its estranged ally Shiv Sena in Maharashtra is reported to have begun.

Though in Haryana the party got a majority by winning 47 seats out of total 90, which is two more than the half way mark, in Maharashtra the ruling party at the Centre fell short of the magic figure of 145 by 23 seats. Maharashtra has a 288-member house. Though the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) with 41 seats has pledged outside support, the BJP leadership did not react to the offer. Shiv Sena has got 63 seats. Well-placed sources said the state leaders of both the saffron parties in Maharashtra are trying to negotiate a bail out with the possibility of the BJP offering to the Shiv Sena the post of the deputy chief minister. 

As reports poured in of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray calling up Modi and Amit Shah, congratulating them, they were categorically denied by Thackeray later.  

The national general secretary of the BJP, JP Nadda, soon after the party’s parliamentary board meeting, said: ‘Our union home minister and former party president Rajnath Singh and I will go to Maharashtra as observers to decide on government formation. In Haryana, our urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu along with national vice-president Dinesh Sharma have been assigned to work on government formation. The selection of chief ministerial candidates in both states will be done by them after due consultation with the prime minister.’

BJP stormed to power in Haryana by winning 47 of the 90 seats. It was a stunning improvement for the party considering it was always considered as a minor force in the state and won only four seats in the last Vidhan Sabha elections in 2009.

In Maharashtra, BJP has emerged as the single largest party. It has won 122 seats, while Sena is in the second position. For Congress it was a poor show after the party was left with just 41 and 15 seats respectively in Maharashtra and in Haryana. Following the disastrous poll results, Haryana CM BS Hooda submitted his resignation in the afternoon and accepted his defeat saying, ‘I respect public mandate and accept this defeat. I am grateful to Sonia ji (UPA chairperson) and people of Haryana for giving me a chance to serve for 10 years.’

Meanwhile, BJP president, Amit Shah said, ‘The BJP has secured the biggest ever victory in both Maharashtra and Haryana. Our Congress-mukt abhiyan has moved two steps ahead as the party is not even in a position to get Leader of Opposition post in both the states. We will form government in both Maharashtra and Haryana. BJP CMs will be in both the states.’

When asked about the numbers game in Maharashtra, Shah said, ‘Wait for some time.