Clear message to Modi that people are unhappy, says Rahul Gandhi; BJP says poll fought on state govts’ performance
NEW DELHI: The Congress triumph over the BJP in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan assembly elections has brought cheer to the opposition camp. The election in the three heartland states are seen as the final test of the BJP-led government’s policies before Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a second term next year. The results are expected to boost the leadership quotient of Rahul Gandhi, who took charge of the Congress exactly a year ago. But the Congress defeat in Mizoram and a possible wafer-thin majority in Rajasthan are seen as causes for concern. All eyes are now on Madhya Pradesh, considered the biggest prize this time, where the party is locked in a tight race with the BJP.
Celebrations started at the Congress headquarters in Delhi and Jaipur as the party established a big lead over the BJP in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.But as the results see-sawed in Madhya Pradesh without touching the halfway mark of 116, the party dialled Mayawati for a Plan B, sources said. Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party is leading in four seats in the state.
Madhya Pradesh, where Shivraj Singh Chouhan is seeking a fourth term, is the biggest prize in these polls. Mr Chouhan had said the voting will be “pro-incumbency”. News agency Press Trust of India reported that a dozen of his ministers are trailing. The Congress, which initially said it would win 140 seats, has revised the figure to 126.
In Rajasthan, as the gap with the BJP shrunk, state Congress in-charge Sachin Pilot said, “Even though we are certain we will have the numbers by ourselves, I would like to reach out to other like-minded parties and leaders to form the government “. The Congress has established a lead in more than 100 seats – 101 seats are needed for majority.
The shock defeat for the BJP was in Chhattisgarh, where Raman Singh was considered one of its most popular chief ministers. The Congress has far outstripped the BJP in the Maoist-hit state, leading in more than 60 of the 90 seats. The alliance of Ajit Jogi and Mayawati, which formed the third angle, is leading in 9 seats.
K Chandrashekar Rao struck gold in Telangana, leading in more than 85 of the state’s 119 seats. Congratulating him, rival Chandrababu Naidu said,”TDP respects the mandate of the people”. The Congress-TDP alliance is leading in 23 seats.
In Mizoram, the Mizo National Front is leading in 26 of the state’s 40 seats. The Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla has stepped down, with his party, the Congress, ahead in just five seats. But the MNF’s victory also dashes the hopes of the BJP to rule the whole of northeast. The party has won only one seat.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, who also stepped down, said the state election, fought on local issues, has no bearing on the national elections. “These elections were not elections for Delhi, those will be held in 2019. The 2019 fight will be about who is up against PM Modi,” he said.
The victory in the two heartland states come exactly a year after Rahul Gandhi took charge of the party and it is expected to boost his leadership. It is also expected to help the Congress establish itself in a key role within the proposed Grand Alliance to take on the BJP next year.
In Rajasthan, the Congress is yet to face the tough question it has avoided so far — who would be the chief minister: Sachin Pilot, part of Rahul Gandhi’s young brigade, or two-time chief minister and party veteran Ashok Gehlot.
In case of a victory, a similar task awaits it in Madhya Pradesh, where its three top leaders, Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia, have kept a truce throughout the campaign.
