After the commanding performance in the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra and Haryana earlier this year, one cannot blame the INDIA bloc for believing that it had a very good chance of winning the assembly polls in those states. With their distinct demographies and political landscapes, however, Maharashtra and Haryana defied predictions and gave the ruling BJP an unprecedented mandate.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP not only staged a remarkable comeback but also dispelled doubts about its political reach.
The intense 2024 election season concluded on a high note for the BJP, delivering a humbling lesson to the INDIA bloc. Going by a cricket analogy, the opposition began as favourites, but ended as "chokers".
The Maharashtra assembly elections served as a masterclass in political strategy, demonstrating that no battle is unwinnable with meticulous planning and efficient execution. While the BJP reworked its strategy and idiom, the opposition was not as agile in reading the voters' mind. There is, however, a silver lining for them, as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-Congress alliance managed to clinch victory in Jharkhand, despite the BJP's aggressive campaigning.
This round of assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, and a host of by-polls in several states have given a largely similar mandate: the ruling parties have done well, beating anti-incumbency. Consider West Bengal, which was in turmoil following the rape and murder of a doctor, denting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's image.
This story is from the December 08, 2024 edition of THE WEEK India.
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This story is from the December 08, 2024 edition of THE WEEK India.
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