MODI ROUTS CONG IN 2 STATES
BJP makes history, to form govt in Haryana for first time Shah’s gamble to break poll alliances pays off handsomely NCP takes Sena by surprise, offers BJP ‘ outside support’
On Saffron Sunday, the Narendra Modi- led BJP wiped out the Congress from two of its traditional bastions — Maharashtra and Haryana — and was set to form a government for the first time in the northern state.
The Congress, that has ruled Haryana for the past 10 years, and ran a government in Maharashtra in alliance with the NCP for 15 years, slipped to a pathetic third slot in both states.
The BJP, that barely existed in the Haryana Assembly, won 47 seats, a clear majority in a House of 90, and is set to form a government on its own. In Maharashtra, despite its acrimonious split with 25year- old ally Shiv Sena, the BJP emerged as the largest single party in the Assembly, winning 122 seats, just 23 short of a simple majority.
The Sharad Pawar- led Nationalist Congress Party, that won 41 seats, rushed to offer the BJP unconditional “outside support”. The NCP’s sudden move apparently disturbed the Shiv Sena’s gameplan to gain the upper hand in the post- poll scenario. The Sena, which improved its tally from 44 to 63 seats, did not rule out a possible alliance. Being upstaged by its erstwhile junior partner, the BJP, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray tried to put up a brave face, saying: “The BJP can approach us if they want, or if the BJP wants it can go with the NCP.”
Late on Sunday evening, BJP president Amit Shah spoke to Mr Thackeray, giving rise to speculation that the onetime allies might reunite. While sources said the Sena might be eyeing the post of deputy chief minister in the event of a post- poll alliance, the BJP, firmly ensconced in the driver’s seat in Maharashtra, took stock of the situation at its parliamentary board meeting here. It also discussed possible CM candidates for the two states. Union home minister Rajnath Singh will leave for Maharashtra on Monday, while parliamentary affairs minister M. Venkaiah Naidu will go to Haryana, to oversee the choice of the legislature parties. BJP brahmin leader Devendra Fadnavis, an RSS man from Nagpur, is emerging as the frontrunner for CM in Maharashtra, while the names of Capt. Abhimanyu, Manohar Lal Khattar, Anil Vij and Ram
“historic results”, he “saluted karyakartas” and “expressed gratitude” to the people of Maharashtra and Haryana. The Maharashtra results appeared “historic” as no single political outfit had managed to cross the 100mark since the 1990 Assembly polls, in which the Congress secured 141 seats. Also, the BJP tally of 123 seats is more than the combined figure of 92 seats it had won along with the Shiv Sena in the 2009 polls.
While the best tally of the BJP in Maharashtra was 65 in 1999, that too with in alliance with the Shiv Sena, it had won only four seats in Haryana in the 2009 Assembly polls. The Modi- led BJP in Maharashtra not merely made a stupendous gain of 77 seats, but it also increased its voteshare from 14 per cent to 28 per cent. In Haryana, the BJP won 47 seats ( a massive gain of 43), and boosted its voteshare from a meagre nine per cent to 33 per cent. With the Congress drubbed in one election after another, fingers are once again being pointed at the “capability and credibility” of Rahul Gandhi. As the results started pouring out, posters screaming “Priyanka lao, Congress bachao ( Bring Priyanka, save the Congress)” began appearing at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi. Rapidly losing elections and allies, some in the Congress are whsipering about its need for an immediate overhaul. While Mr Modi’s development plank yet again cut across caste barriers, identity politics and regionalism in both states, allegations of corruption and nepotism sealed the
Congress’ fate. Raging allegations about Sonia Gandhi’s son- in- law Robert Vadra’s alleged land scams severely damaged the Congress’ electoral prospects in Haryana. If the Congress and NCP paid for the disastrous decision to go it alone, the Shiv Sena managed to stand its ground by increasing its tally from 44 seats in 2009 polls to 63. Rabble- rouser Raj Thackeray’s MNS got a big blow, winning just one seat, and now faces an existential crisis.
After the BJP’s triumph in the Lok Sabha polls and with Sunday’s election victories, a debate is now raging on whether the sharp divide between regional and national politics was rapidly blurring.
After the victory the PM tweeted: “Thanks to the people of Haryana for giving us the opportunity to fulfil their dreams & to take Haryana’s development journey to new heights.” Expressing gratitude to Maharashtra’s people, he said: “We are committed to Maharashtra’s progress & creating a Maharashtra the world will be proud of.”