Some five hours into the counting of votes, a bulldozer was stationed outside the BJP office in Lucknow. The ‘Bulldozer Baba’ jibe that Akhilesh Yadav had made against Yogi Adityanath was turned into a symbol of victory. BJP supporters whose faces were smeared with orange gulal (dry colour) danced to the chants of Jo Ram ko laye hain, hum unko layenge (We will bring in those who have brought Ram). Elsewhere, the song UP ke bachcha bachcha ki farmaish mein Yogi ji (Yogi the choice of all of UP’s children) played.
At the Samajwadi Party office, stray supporters milled around. Party president Yadav drove into the office in a car with black tinted windows. There were no waves to party workers. The gates were shut on the media.
Sudhir Panwar, an SP leader from Shamli in western Uttar Pradesh, said, “It is the liquidation of the Bahujan Samaj Party which has helped the BJP the most.” However, in the outgoing assembly, there are only two BSP members from western Uttar Pradesh, after defections and expulsions.
Panwar’s other explanation is more plausible. He said the SP alliance had failed to attract the non-Jatav vote which is of a sizeable number in the west. “The gap between the landed, socio-economically dominant castes (the Jats) and the dalits is too large to bridge. They are not comfortable being with the SP but are attracted to the BJP because of its direct benefit transfer schemes,” he said.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock