Why today’s poll verdict matters

4. TESTING THE POLITICAL IMPACT OF AGRARIAN DISTRESS:

Rural distress has emerged as an important political narrative in recent months. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are predominantly agrarian states, with agriculture’s share in both their Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and workforce higher than the all-india average. If the BJP suffers significant reversals in these three states, it will be an indication that rural distress could have a big political impact in the 2019 elections as well. In case the BJP manages to hold its ground, the validity of the argument that rural distress is causing problems for the BJP is bound to come under question. individual failure as a minister”. “It’s really sad that Upendra Kushwaha-ji mentioned the name of our Prime Minister. As for development in Bihar, the Union government has ensured all possible help to the state,” said party spokesperson Nikhil Anand.

The JD(U) said Kushwaha’s exit will not have much of an impact on the alliance. “The JD(U) has no alliance with the RLSP,” said JD(U) spokesperson Sanjay Singh.

DM Diwakar, a social scientist associated with AN Sinha Institute for Social Sciences in Patna, said, “His resignation will definitely give the NDA a jolt when it comes to backward class votes.”

There has been a fundamental conflict in what you have promised to the people before elections and what you have actually delivered... UPENDRA KUSHWAHA, RLSP leader (in his letter to the PM)