"A WEEK IS A long time in politics," said former British prime minister Harold Wilson. His words rung true in Haryana on October 8, as the ruling BJP, in a major turn of events, created history by scoring a hat-trick win in the agrarian state, defying all predictions. It won 48 seats, eight more than it got last time, comfortably crossing the half way mark in the 90-member assembly.
Most observers got it wrong as they predicted a Congress win as the situation on the ground suggested strong anti-incumbency against the BJP, fuelled by discontent among the dominant Jat community, the wrestlers' protest, opposition to the Agnipath scheme and rising unemployment.
What then turned the tide? Many believe that the shift began with the "parchi-kharchi" jibe by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a rally in Kurukshetra on September 27. It referred to the 10-year Congress rule in the state, from 2004 to 2014, when jobs allegedly could be secured only through recommendation or bribes.
Denne historien er fra October 20, 2024-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 20, 2024-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The female act
The 19th edition of the Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival was of the women and by the women
A SHOT OF ARCHER
An excerpt from the prologue of An Eye for an Eye
MASTER OF MAKE-BELIEVE
50 years. after his first book, Jeffrey*Archer refuses to put down his'felt-tip Pilot pen
Smart and sassy Passi
Pop culture works according to its own unpredictable, crazy logic. An unlikely, overnight celebrity has become the talk of India. Everyone, especially on social media, is discussing, dissing, hissing and mimicking just one person—Shalini Passi.
Energy transition and AI are reshaping shipping
PORTS AND ALLIED infrastructure development are at the heart of India's ambitions to become a maritime heavyweight.
MADE FOR EACH OTHER
Trump’s preferred transactional approach to foreign policy meshes well with Modi’s bent towards strategic autonomy
DOOM AND GLOOM
Democrats’ message came across as vague, preachy and hopelessly removed from reality. And voters believed Trump’s depiction of illegal immigrants as a source of their economic woes
WOES TO WOWS
The fundamental reason behind Trump’s success was his ability to convert average Americans’ feelings of grievance into votes for him
POWER HOUSE
Trump International Hotel was the only place outside the White House where Trump ever dined during his four years as president
DON 2.0
Trump returns to presidency stronger than before, but just as unpredictable
