Who is facing the brunt?
17 Dec 2013 12:29 AM GMT
Our country recently witnessed elections to the five state assemblies. This is being termed as a semi final to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The verdict has been clear in the four states whereas a fractured mandate in Delhi has eclipsed the so called semi final. The city, which had been always giving a clear judgement is today facing a different political situation due to emergence of a hung assembly.
The Congress party has secured the thumping four-fifth majority in Mizoram. The credit of the resounding victory goes to the Chief Minister Pu Lalthanhawla. Similarly in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh there was a one-sided fight. The saffron BJP secured more than three-fourth majority in Rajasthan and more than two-third majority in Madhya Pradesh. In Rajasthan, the verdict has been against the outgoing Congress government whereas it has been a pro-incumbency wave in Madhya Pradesh. Vasundhara Raje emerged as the strongest leader of the BJP in the state as she is the only party leader to steer her party to a grand victory twice with absolute majority in the assembly elections in 2003 and 2013. Even the tallest leader of the party, former vice president, late Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, could not help his saffron party to gain an absolute majority in the earlier assembly elections. The BJP has secured three consecutive win in the assembly elections in 2003, 2008 and 2013 in Madhya Pradesh but Chief Minister Shiv Raj Singh Chohan can be given credit of the two big successes in the assembly elections as in 2003 elections the roaring success came under the leadership of Uma Bharti. In case of Chhattisgarh, the saffron party has earned three one after another wins in the assembly elections in 2003, 2008 and 2013 under the leadership of the Chief Minister Raman Singh, though he had to struggle this time to retain power, the reason being the Naxal attack in the Bastar division.
The BJP is buoyed with the election results which have generated a debate on the impact of the party PM candidate, Narender Modi. Modi campaigned extensively in the four states in Hindi heartland. The senior most BJP leader and presently the NDA Chairperson, Advani restrained of giving credit of the party success to Modi.
The state administration in Madhya Pradesh had not remained unbleached. There is no denying the appreciable performance of the two Chief Ministers, Shiv Raj and Raman Singh. As regards Delhi, the BJP could not mange to reach the magical figure of 36 in 70 member assembly; hence the political analysts have started doubting the competence and the impact of Modi in the national capital.
The analysis of the results in Delhi reflects many unique features. For the first time a party has emerged as the strongest third front in its first attempt. The election campaign centred on the power tariff as the two parties – the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party – had been trying to ignite the issue for last 18 months. The ignited issue gave power shocks to the ruling party. Further the water tariff was also exploited by both the parties. In spite of these two issues the rising prices made things difficult for the ruling party. The Congress party which secured 43 seats in 2008 elections and had taken lead in all but two assembly segments during 2009 Lok Sabha elections, had to satisfy this time with the success in just eight Vidhan Sabha seats.
Though the BJP and the AAP had many common promises in their election manifestoes, they could not come to common ground to help each other subsequent upon emergence of a hung house. For the first time it is being seen that no party is willing to form the government and striving to muster a majority by hook or crook in the present political circumstances. The two parties – the Congress and BJP – on its own have been offering their co-operation and unconditional support to the AAP in its hesitant effort in forming the government. The BJP, the largest party in the house categorically declined to form the government in lack of the sufficient numbers with it. The AAP and its unchallenged leader Arvind Kejriwal is perhaps finding excuses to run away from the field. The 18 exaggerated excuses are nothing but a set of teasing posers to the BJP and Congress. Apart from this, Kejriwal also requested LG to grant 10 days time in deciding the issue after assessing the public mood by organising around 250 public meetings across the city. This is also being seen as a time gaining tactic. In other words Kejriwal has been running away from the field as he is scared of fulfilling the impractical and impossible promises made to the people with an aim of wooing the citizens. He is finding difficult to clearly decline the opportunity being offered by the LG.
Moreover he is trying to shift the blame of forcing Delhi under the President rule on the other two parties. Today, Kejariwal is looking a worried man despite possessing the huge public support.
The author is a communication consultant
The Congress party has secured the thumping four-fifth majority in Mizoram. The credit of the resounding victory goes to the Chief Minister Pu Lalthanhawla. Similarly in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh there was a one-sided fight. The saffron BJP secured more than three-fourth majority in Rajasthan and more than two-third majority in Madhya Pradesh. In Rajasthan, the verdict has been against the outgoing Congress government whereas it has been a pro-incumbency wave in Madhya Pradesh. Vasundhara Raje emerged as the strongest leader of the BJP in the state as she is the only party leader to steer her party to a grand victory twice with absolute majority in the assembly elections in 2003 and 2013. Even the tallest leader of the party, former vice president, late Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, could not help his saffron party to gain an absolute majority in the earlier assembly elections. The BJP has secured three consecutive win in the assembly elections in 2003, 2008 and 2013 in Madhya Pradesh but Chief Minister Shiv Raj Singh Chohan can be given credit of the two big successes in the assembly elections as in 2003 elections the roaring success came under the leadership of Uma Bharti. In case of Chhattisgarh, the saffron party has earned three one after another wins in the assembly elections in 2003, 2008 and 2013 under the leadership of the Chief Minister Raman Singh, though he had to struggle this time to retain power, the reason being the Naxal attack in the Bastar division.
The BJP is buoyed with the election results which have generated a debate on the impact of the party PM candidate, Narender Modi. Modi campaigned extensively in the four states in Hindi heartland. The senior most BJP leader and presently the NDA Chairperson, Advani restrained of giving credit of the party success to Modi.
The state administration in Madhya Pradesh had not remained unbleached. There is no denying the appreciable performance of the two Chief Ministers, Shiv Raj and Raman Singh. As regards Delhi, the BJP could not mange to reach the magical figure of 36 in 70 member assembly; hence the political analysts have started doubting the competence and the impact of Modi in the national capital.
The analysis of the results in Delhi reflects many unique features. For the first time a party has emerged as the strongest third front in its first attempt. The election campaign centred on the power tariff as the two parties – the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party – had been trying to ignite the issue for last 18 months. The ignited issue gave power shocks to the ruling party. Further the water tariff was also exploited by both the parties. In spite of these two issues the rising prices made things difficult for the ruling party. The Congress party which secured 43 seats in 2008 elections and had taken lead in all but two assembly segments during 2009 Lok Sabha elections, had to satisfy this time with the success in just eight Vidhan Sabha seats.
Though the BJP and the AAP had many common promises in their election manifestoes, they could not come to common ground to help each other subsequent upon emergence of a hung house. For the first time it is being seen that no party is willing to form the government and striving to muster a majority by hook or crook in the present political circumstances. The two parties – the Congress and BJP – on its own have been offering their co-operation and unconditional support to the AAP in its hesitant effort in forming the government. The BJP, the largest party in the house categorically declined to form the government in lack of the sufficient numbers with it. The AAP and its unchallenged leader Arvind Kejriwal is perhaps finding excuses to run away from the field. The 18 exaggerated excuses are nothing but a set of teasing posers to the BJP and Congress. Apart from this, Kejriwal also requested LG to grant 10 days time in deciding the issue after assessing the public mood by organising around 250 public meetings across the city. This is also being seen as a time gaining tactic. In other words Kejriwal has been running away from the field as he is scared of fulfilling the impractical and impossible promises made to the people with an aim of wooing the citizens. He is finding difficult to clearly decline the opportunity being offered by the LG.
Moreover he is trying to shift the blame of forcing Delhi under the President rule on the other two parties. Today, Kejariwal is looking a worried man despite possessing the huge public support.
The author is a communication consultant
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