LOK SABHA BYPOLL RESULTS: DEMOCRACY REMAINS VIBRANT
The result of the by-elections in UP and Bihar has reaffirmed the wisdom and reality of our vibrant and performing democracy. For all their outward gullibility, voters cannot be fooled by false promises, ornamental speeches, arrogance and falsehood. The leaders of opposition parties must shed personal agendas and think of combining to free citizens of the arrogance and autocracy of the BJP. In these results, the people have won.
Capt Amar Jeet, Mohali
II
The results reflect a colossal failure on the part of the BJP’s poll managers. To lose Gorakhpur, the UP chief minister’s seat for 20 years, shows that the party was overconfident. The non-performance of the party and the alliance between the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) led to the defeats. The BJP needs to introspect quickly or it will find it difficult to repeat its 2014 performance in 2019.
Sanjay Chopra, Mohali
III
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has put forward the lame excuse of the ‘unholy alliance’ between the BSP and the SP. However, an alliance does not mean much. What matters is how people value the deeds and vision of a particular group or party. The harsh lesson for the BJP and the UP chief minister is that people cannot always be fooled on the religion card. He needs to introspect and realise that his brand of politics is on the way out.
Devinder Singh, Patiala
IV
This is a wake-up call for the BJP to feel the real nerve and pulse of the masses. Voters have slaughtered the ‘Gau-Ganga-Ayodhya Mandir’ euphoria of the saffron party and handed it crushing defeats in the constituencies of the UP chief minister and former deputy chief minister. This is a slap on the face of all those wanting to incite communal passions. Voters have a mind of their own.
Sham Murari Sharma, Chandigarh
V
The law of averages is finally catching up with the BJP and could be an indication for 2019 general elections. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo is in jail and yet, the party has won two seats. The BJP has failed to implement promises. For most of its tenure, the Centre took decisions that required the citizens to queue up.
Madan Lal, Barnala
VI
This is a huge boost to the SP and the BSP. The BJP could not even win Araria in Bihar. This is not good news for the Congress, as regional parties are growing stronger. There is food for thought for all national parties. Overconfidence after victory in Tripura, demonetisation and GST are some reasons for the loss of the BJP.
Mahesh Chander