Picture this: a divided India, split between the BJP’s thumping victories in the Hindi heartland, a territory it now fiercely controls with 12 state governments, and the Congress’s bold resurgence in the South, where it is dethroning regional players.
The political stage is set, and the spotlight is on the clash of the two national parties. In other words, the electoral triumph of Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is turning out to be a challenge for the regional political parties in India as the nation gears up for Lok Sabha 2024.
In today’s declaration of assembly election results in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana, the outcome shattered predictions provided by nearly all exit polls. At the time of filing this report, data from the Election Commission of India (ECI) reveals the BJP’s dominance, leading with 164 seats in Madhya Pradesh and 115 seats in Rajasthan, while the Congress trails with 65 seats in Madhya Pradesh and 69 in Rajasthan.
Chhattisgarh witnessed a surprising turn of events, with the BJP securing 54 seats compared to Congress’s 35. In Telangana, the Congress showed an impressive performance with 64 seats, outshining the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) with 39 seats, while the BJP secured only 8 seats out of 119.
The result reflects nothing but a stark political landscape divided between the BJP’s dominance in Northern India and the Congress emerging as a preferred alternative in the South.
The four-time incumbent Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of Madhya Pradesh successfully navigated the anti-incumbency wave, further solidifying the BJP’s dominance in the region.
In Rajasthan, renowned for its inclination to change state governments in every election, the BJP’s victory, unseating Congress’ Ashok Gehlot, is credited to an intensive month-long campaign.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside other prominent BJP leaders spearheaded rallies throughout Rajasthan.
Simultaneously, internal conflicts within the Congress, notably the protracted tug-of-war between Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, jinxed the Congress’s victory. The unresolved issue significantly affected the party’s prospects. As analysts observed, “The Sachin Pilot camp of the Congress may not be too unhappy by the result.”
Contrary to initial expectations, Chhattisgarh, presumed to be firmly in the Congress’s grasp, witnessed a dramatic reversal as the day unfolded.
The Congress while anticipating a stronghold experienced a setback, losing 33 seats compared to 2018. Seizing the opportunity, the BJP elevated its tally from 15 to an impressive 54. There are a total of 90 assembly seats in the state.
Meanwhile in the South…
Earlier this year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered a significant setback in Karnataka, losing to its longstanding rival, the Indian National Congress. The defeat was not merely a political blow but a devastating loss for the formidable duo of Modi and Shah, as Karnataka stood as their sole stronghold in the southern states.
Adding to the challenge, the Congress is now at the helm in Telangana, further complicating the BJP’s efforts to establish a robust presence in the south. However, amidst the hurdles, a silver lining emerges.
Despite the Congress’s victory in Telangana, the BJP’s performance has shown improvement, possibly transforming from a mere 1 seat in 2018 to an encouraging 8 seats in 2023. This upswing is particularly evident in northern Telangana, including challenging constituencies like the Muslim-dominated Mudhole.
However, in contrast, states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu present a formidable challenge for the BJP in garnering widespread support. Currently occupying the third position in Kerala, the BJP faces an uphill battle, and in Tamil Nadu, the party operates independently after parting ways with AIADMK.
While the BJP exhibits signs of progress in Telangana, establishing a sturdy foothold in the southern region remains a daunting task.
Today’s Hat-Trick Guarantee of 2024 Hat-Trick: PM
“Some are saying, today’s hat-trick guarantees the 2024 hat-trick,” PM Modi stated with confidence as he addressed the BJP workers and leaders after the party won elections in three states. It was a comment aimed at the opposition.
“Today’s mandate proves people have zero-tolerance towards corruption, appeasement and dynastic politics,” he added. Taking a jibe at Congress, he said, “This is a big lesson for the Congress and their alliance. Just by some families coming together, the photo can be good, but it can’t win the trust of the country’s people.”
And in the Northeast…
In the Tapi Assembly seat of Mon District, Nagaland, the ruling NDPP, an ally of the BJP, successfully defended its position. NDPP candidate Wangpang Konyak secured victory, defeating the Congress rival Wanglem Konyak by a margin of 5,333 votes. Wangpang Konyak garnered 10,053 votes, while Wanglem Konyak managed 4,720.
The bye poll became necessary following the unfortunate passing of NDPP MLA Noke Wangnao on August 28, 2023.
Taking to X, Chief Minister Rio congratulated Wangpang Konyak, the party workers and well-wishers.
Meanwhile, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) extended deep gratitude to the electorate of 43 Tapi Assembly Constituency for enthusiastically exercising their electoral mandate during the just concluded bye election.
“We congratulate the winning NDPP candidate and MLA (Elect), Shri Wangpang Konyak, and wish him a successful term in the service of his constituents. We also congratulate Shri Wanglem Konyak, the INC candidate, for having run a spirited and graceful campaign. He may have come up short in the vote count, but he has won the hearts of many,” the NPCC communication department added.
The NPCC further thanked the rank and file of the Congress family in the state, as well as the “ever-reliant AICC leaders” involved in the campaign, for their unwavering and unstinting effort at upholding the candidature of the Congress party.
Whereas, with the counting date in Mizoram deferred from December 3 to the next day, the northeastern state braces for surprises in results. The northeastern state witnessed a tight contest between the regional Mizo National Front (MNF) – which is currently leading the state, the Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM), the Congress, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Exit polls indicate an advantage for the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), a BJP-led National Democratic Alliance constituent, but the actual results may reveal unforeseen outcomes.