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CoverStory

t is a big boost for Brand Modi, as BJP has crossed
majority mark on its own while the saffron par-
ty has made huge gains in West Bengal.Though
Congress has marginally improved its tally, but
I the BJP has achieved the mega victory. Already,
there are murmurs of protest inthe rank and file of
Congress in states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan,
Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Chhatisgarh and in TMC
ruled West Bengal. A viral rebellion seems to have sur-
faced in these states and legislators are reportedly in
a mood to revolt and leave the two parties. The “miss-
ing MP” campaign launched by BJP candidate Smriti
Irani and her regular contact with voters in Amethi
too harmed the Congress President in a big way. Con-
gress quoting extensively from the cover of Times
magazine that described Modi as “divider in chief”
also did not work.
The BJP’s poll narrative that centred on nationalism
has worked for the party in a big way in the Lok Sabha
elections. On the other hand, the points raised by op-
position unemployment, price rise, and omissions
and commissions of the BJP did not stand before the
narrative of nationalism. The turning point was the
“Chowkidar chor hai slogan” that was rejected by the
masses.
Similarly, the lack of electoral understanding be-
tween the Left parties and Congress helped the BJP
make big gains in West Bengal. There was a polarisa-
tion between Trinamool and the BJP, as there was no
understanding between the Congress and the Left.
Sabarimala undercurrent helped the UDF electorally
in Kerala, where Rahul Gandhi who contested from
Wayanad and had a record win also consolidated the
minority votes behind the Congress. For the record in
the seven-phase the election for 542 seats, it saw 8000
candidates fighting for a win. Paper trail machines for
the first time in a Lok Sabha election results that re-
sult of voting machines were matched with VVPATs
or slips generated this. The months and weeks leading  It’s BJP all the way
up to the election saw an acrimonious campaign and
bitter attacks by political rivals. The BJP campaigned
aggressively on the nationalism pitch and played up
the recent Balakot air strikes against Pakistan as an jasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, Vajpayee
example of PM Modi’s strong leadership. The opposi- advanced the Lok Sabha elections in 2004.
tion, led by the Congress party and its leader, Rahul While Modi-led NDA surely didn’t plan to lose three
Gandhi, tried to steer the narrative towards the econ- states in the run-up to Lok Sabha elections, the fact
omy, farmer distress, and jobs. that it did drove away whatever bit of complacency
In the hindsight, losing three Hindi heartland states that may have crept in. This time around, the BJP has
in last December’s Assembly elections proved benefi- done very well in the three Hindi belt states where
cial for BJP and problematic for Congress. Now dark the Congress in the recently held assembly elections
clouds hover over Rahul Gandhi’s political future. had trounced it. The BJP think tank went back to the
Prime Minister, Modi and Amit Shah have been para- drawing board, announced a raft of measures such as
noid about avoiding the mistakes which earlier NDA income support for farmers, reservation for the eco-
government led by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari nomically backward, gave the middle class more tax
Vajpayee made. Boosted by comfortable wins in Ra- relief and tried to address the loopholes. Not only that

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