Brand Modi: Trusted Or Thrusted?
Tehelka|March 31, 2017

With unprecedented victory in the latest Assembly polls in five states, BJP is expecting even bigger mandate during 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Mudit Mathur
Brand Modi: Trusted Or Thrusted?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recreated the magic of 2014 General Elections in the State Assembly Elections this year in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The BJP had won 312 seats in Uttar Pradesh while in Uttarakhand it returned to power by winning 57 out of 70 seats. In Punjab, Congress won 77 constituencies in a House of 117. In Manipur, the Amit Shah-led party had 21 MLAs and secured support of 11 others adding up to 32 legislators and formed the government in the 60-member Assembly under the leadership of N Biren Singh. In Goa, the saffron had bagged 13 seats in the polls, while it claims support of three MLAs each of the Goa Forward Party and Maharashtravadi Gomantak Party, besides three independents. Congress had won 17 seats.

The people of Uttar Pradesh once again rode on saffron sweep and trusted ‘brand Modi’ style of politics aimed at bringing change in the mindset of the state to overcome it from the clutches of backwardness and poverty. Well-researched catching theme of Na Goonda Raj Na Bhrashtachar (No crime, no corruption) ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ (Everyone’s contribution, everyone’s evolution) and sharp splitting of Muslim votes virtually paid him dividends of unimaginable historic victory that ended the political exile of BJP after 14 years. It was the over dominance of Modi-Modi and only Modi that revolved as a central theme in the entire campaign of all the parties that gave him edge over others.

This story is from the March 31, 2017 edition of Tehelka.

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This story is from the March 31, 2017 edition of Tehelka.

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