Poll Verdict Unlikely To Impact LS Elections

By R K SINHA

The verdict in the state assembly elections in three States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh that went against the BJP should not be taken as a negative sign for the BJP in the next year’s general elections to Lok Sabha. Contrary to opinions and comments being offered by political commentators, the BJP has reason to smile though it may sound bizarre when I use this word ‘smile’ when we have lost the elections in three States.

One should not forget that 15 years of incumbency is something that is not easy to defend no matter how good work the government has done. In Delhi, Sheila Dixit who also did apperantly good work in Delhi was defeated after being in office for three terms at the hands of a dark horse like Aam Admi Party.

 Let’s analyses the hard facts!

CHHATTISGARH

The poll results were on the expected lines. If there was an element of surprise it was in Chhattisgarh where the BJP was almost routed. Why it is a surprise for me and many others because I had visited the state in the last week of September and went to the nerve center of Naxalites- Dantevada  inBastar and spent night in Dantevada also. Raman Singh did a commendable work by linking the forest areas of Bastar with smooth silky metaled road despite heavy odds.

A thousand seat BPO in Dantwada and young educated BusturAdivasi boys and girls working on their computers was something to be seen to believe . The Maoists would blow the structure of culverts and bridges at the construction stage. The armed Naxalites killed engineers and threatened contractors to flee. Yet, the bridges were laid and road built.

The orphaned children of Dantevada who lost their parents in Naxal attacks have been provided free residential school facilities. A steel plant and a Medical College and Hospital dot the skyline of Bastar. The road communication is excellent in the state. Yet, Raman Singh Government lost. What could be the reasons for the defeat of BJP? One reason that comes to my mind is Rahul Gandhi’s promise to waive agriculture loan of farmers in the state if voted to power.

The Congress President also promised to give raised Minimum Support Price for crops. The second factor could be tireless work of the Congress President of Chhatisgarh Bhupesh Baghel who has been touring Chhattisgarh from the last five years raising the voice of rural population. Rural distress added to the woes of the BJP in the polls. But, winning of Congress in almost all Nuxal affected areas also raises the eyebrow of the analysts. Was there any understanding or underhand dealing which did the miracle? It is to be looked into objectively but seriously. Because any pact with Left Wing Extremists, may cost a heavy price for the incumbent Government in terms of maintainance of Law and Order in Bustar.

 RAJASTHAN

Now come to Rajasthan. For the past 25 years, Rajasthan opted for change of government every five years. This time it was the turn of the BJP government to be replaced by Congress, the Congress won and BJP got defeated. But It was not a clean sweep by the Congress which managed to get just 100 seats, the bare minimum majority mark to form government.

Pollsters have predicted that the election verdict will affect the performance of the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. Let me remind the analysts that in 1998 State Assembly Election in Rajasthan, the Congress had won a land slide victory by bagging 153 seats of the total of 200 seats in the House. The BJP had won just 33 seats in 1998.

After a year when LokSabha elections were held in 1999 under the leadership of Atal Behari Vajpayee, the BJP won 16 of the 25 LokSabha seats in Rajasthan, 9 seats went to Congress.

It is too premature to predict that the Lok Sabha results in 2019 would have a bearing of the verdict of 2018 in three States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The state assembly elections and the general election to Lok Sabha are contested on different platforms and on different issues.

MADHYA PRADESH

Credit goes to Shivraj Singh Chouhan for giving a sleepless night to the Congress on the counting day. In a see saw battle, the Congress failed to reach the majority mark of 116 MLAs even at the end of the counting. Congress won 114 seats and the BJP won 109 seats just short of 5 seats from the Congress. There is not much of difference in the share of votes between the BJP and the Congress. How one can interpret the BJP defending 15 years of incumbency gallantly. It was the performance of the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh that made the voters of the state stand behind Chouhan. The victory margin of the Congress candidates was narrow. No winner in the polls from either side of the contestants could get a 50 thousand vote margin of victory.

Rahul Gandhi also had to acknowledge”the good work done by the BJP government in three States’.

Reacting to the outcome of the verdict in elections Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said victory and defeat are integral part of life.He congratulated Congress and said, “We accept the people’s mandate with humility". He said the family of BJP ‘karyakartas’ worked day and night for the state elections.

In a way it was a good verdict because it will work as a wake-up call to the over confident leaders of BJP also. They must recognise the fact that the good work done by Modi Government is yet to reach the voters and over confidence may becomes counter- productive at times.

It reminds me a line for the over confident leadership of BJP,

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep;

But, I have promises to keep, And, miles to go before I sleep, And, miles to go before I sleep.”

Photo Courtesy – National Herald

(The writer is a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha).

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Indian Observer Post and Indian Observer Post does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.