Pro-Hindutva government’, shows a very different side of the coin.

Current BJP’s empire : Will they be retained by BJP in General elections 2019?

Let’s examine the chances of BJP in general elections 2019 with due emphasis on present scenario and upcoming hurdles in the general elections early next year. Out of 29 states, BJP is currently ruling in 19 states with or without alliance. These 19 states are – Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, U.P, Rajasthan , Manipur , Maharashtra , M.P, Jharkhand , Haryana , Gujarat, Goa, Chhattisgarh , Assam & Arunachal Pradesh with BJP government & states like – Andhra Pradesh (TDP) , Bihar (JDU), Jammu & Kashmir (PDP) , Nagaland (NPF), & Sikkim (SDF) has BJP’s government in coalition with regional parties.

It includes large states like U.P having 80 seats, Maharashtra with 48 seats, M.P with 40 seats and Bihar with 54 seats in Lok Sabha & in total these states constitute 362 seats out of 543 (+2 Anglo- Indians) seats.

Having control over such a large proportion of seats, makes NDA government much stronger than any other party or alliance. Going further & analysing performance of BJP & share of seats in each ruling sates we get –

These statistics are enough to show case the grip of BJP in present scenario.

How will current State legislative elections effect BJP in General elections 2019?

In 2018, assembly polls will be held in Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan and Tripura.

Can Bjp Win the Chhattisgath elections 2019?

In Chhattisgarh,  Raman Singh is holding the CM office for past 14 years. The state is influenced by Maoist insurgency and CRPF, is one of the highly disturbed sates of India. The distribution of ‘Tendu leaf plucking’ is being given out to woo the tribal electorate besides extension of the work of RSS affiliates in tribal areas. Raman has doled out smartphones earlier this year and rice at Rs 1 per kg previously. The paddy procurement has been ordered and is being seen as the game changer in the next polls. He is confident that the BJP’s vote share and seats will increase this time. Although the assembly elections slated for November 2018 will be Raman Singh’s toughest yet. The reasons are – one, he would be riding on a three-term incumbency;  two, it is not clear as yet whose votes former CM Ajit Jogi’s Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) would eat into. While it is expected that Jogi’s party will damage the Congress, since he is originally from the Congress, in 2013 the BJP had won 9 out of the 10 seats in which the satnamis — the community that rallies behind Jogi — have influence. He is targeting the 29 tribal seats in the state where the BJP didn’t do too well last time.

Can BJP win the Karnataka elections 2019?

Now coming to Karnataka where K.Siddaramaiah of Congress is ruling with full majority. Siddaramaiah’s popularity has soared in recent months, mostly due to the populist schemes targeting the economically and socially backward people in the state.  In 2015, Siddaramaiah also commissioned a ‘caste census’ (yet to be released) to challenge the dominant caste narrative and give ‘more reservations to backward classes’. Where as,  BJP has named ‘B.S. Yeddyurappa’ as its chief ministerial candidate to counter the growing popularity of Siddaramaiah.

However, the BJP’s five-year rule in Karnataka from 2008-2013 which had seen three chief ministers and  number of scams—including the illegal mining case, resort politics and a host of other corruption charges,  has a very loose ground in Karnataka and exceptional efforts are to be invested  to reap in Karnataka.

Read the detailed analysis on Can BJP Win Karnataka Elections 2018?

Can BJP win the Madhya Pradesh elections 2018?

In Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan of BJP is ruling with full majority. But even in M.P., BJP may face anti-incumbent wave as the Vyapam scam and many sex scandals related to BJP leaders have tarnished the party’s image. The farmers’ movement and death of 6 farmers during the movement, suicide by more than 50 farmers and sending the leader of Narmada Bachao Andolan, Medha Patkar, to jail are some of the issues which might seriously hamper BJP’s path to victory in the elections. Under this situation, there is a possibility that BJP will fight the election without projecting any chief ministerial candidate. This may be because the party thinks it is very difficult to win an election under the leadership of present Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Read here on Madhya Pradesh Elections: Why BJP And Amit Shah Should Be Worried?

Can BJP win the Rajasthan elections 2018?

Now coming to Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje is ruling with full majority. She was the Chief Minister of Rajasthan from 2003 to 2008. Rajasthan is important for BJP as it gave 163 seats in assembly out of 200 and all 25 seats in parliamentary elections but Rajasthan had voted out incumbents in last four polls. The state is not facing any major anti-incumbent problem, as the results for student union elections in the state indicate that ABVP has been doing well but nowhere it is seen that it has full control over student politics. NSUI is half way behind but if Sachin Pilot, Pradesh Congress Committee president starts focusing on emerging leaders and new voters, BJP could be in trouble. BJP is hopeful that Raje-Shah combo can do what party has been doing in Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh through hat-trick of victories. Since Congress face in the state, Sachin Pilot, its PCC chief faces lot of resistance from rivals Ashok Gehlot and CP Joshi, BJP has low threat level in Rajasthan. Vote here on Rajasthan Opinion Poll 2018: Who Will Win 2018 Rajasthan Elections?

Will seven sisters state help BJP win General elections 2019?

Lastly coming to the states of seven sisters that is Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland & Tripura. The states like Mizoram & Nagaland  has been highly influenced with the militant uprisings & foreign funding from countries like China, Myanmar, & Bangladesh. Two out of four states I.e, Meghalaya & Mizoram has congress rule in it and in Nagaland having Naga’s People Front (left front) & Tripura having CPI(M). This clearly shows that winning in these states won’t be a cake walk for BJP. Also a major drawback for BJP here can be the hindutva ideology which is strength of BJP and RSS’s in rest of the country. From banning beef to enforcing Hindi language can limit the government in forming majority in these states. The cast politics for which BJP has been accused ever since will not benefit here as majority people are Christians. In Mizoram  87% of the total population is Christians.  But Asom is the RSS-BJP camp for North-eastern states as BJP could easily segregate Ahom tribes (supported by BJP) & Bengali immigrants from Bangladesh & West Bengal. But winning in other states of north-east will be a must watch challenge. Although BJP has already started preparation under Hemanta Biswas Sarma to win the northeast frontier. Read more on Meghalaya Elections 2018 – Is BJP All Set To Expand Its Footprint In The North East?

How did 2013 assembly elections effect general elections 2014?

The 2013 assembly elections played a significant role in BJP’s victorious wave in 2014 elections. States like- Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh , Rajasthan ,Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland, and Karnataka had there assembly elections prior general elections of 2014, where BJP had a clean sweep in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan,  Madhya Pradesh , while congress managed to retain Mizoram, Meghalaya & Karnataka. Similarly the victory of Gujarat & Himachal indicates the positive foundation stone for the upcoming 2019 elections. To maintain the victorious wave of Modi , the upcoming elections of  Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan and Tripura are very much important , not only through the perspective of seats and statistics but also to maintain the ‘Modi wave’. If they manage to repeat the trends as they did in 2013 assembly election , they can prove the opponents that the history might repeat itself.

What are the challenges ahead for BJP in the General Elections 2019?

Although Congress lost the Gujarat assembly elections , these were a game changing shot for Congress. BJP secured 99 seats where as congress managed to retain 77 seats out of 182 seats. It is seen as a big turmoil not only in Gujarat politics but also in National politics. Some what it has dented image of Modi as Gujarat was home ground of BJP & RSS , & the elections were contested in the name of Modi. On the other hand , this has been a turning point for Congress as it performed unexpectedly well under newly elected Congress president Rahul Gandhi. The two major  reason for this turmoil can be the ‘patidar andolan’ of Hardik Patel & Jignesh Mewani’s support to INC. Mainly the Gujarat election is seen as a positive uprising of congress under Rahul in the race of 2019 elections. BJP is having government in majority of states but the Gujarat elections are a wakening alarm for them as now country has started criticising the cast politics & Pro-hindutva ideology. The government has been targeted for communal division in states like U.P where recently colour politics emerged. From Dipping Yogi’s house, office to even some mosque into saffron, & ‘saffronaising’ the state. It has been also criticised for targeting one’s food habit to constraining freedom of speech. The hidutva party has been criticised for terming everyone as anti-national, and source of  intolerance amongst the casts. The latest cast violence in Maharashtra’s Bhimapuri village is an example of it, acknowledged & criticised by media & public. Vote now on 2019 Opinion Poll : Which Party You Will Vote In 2019 Elections?

What factors might adversly effect BJP in General elections 2019?

If BJP wants to continue its victory then they have to keep some points in mind. As the latest Gujarat results were alarming call to remind them to, do not take Congress lightly. The latest absolvement of A.Raja & other congress members from 2G scam can be seen as a major reform for congress where as expose of Vyapam scam has degraded the BJP image. The complicated bills like GST & demonetisation has raged public against government. Not only the national party, regional parties can also pose threat to BJP government , which they should not ignore. Where as Hardik & Jignesh exhibits the power of regional ties, NDA is loosing its grip on some of its regional ties like Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. So BJP must beware of Regional coalitions. No doubt Modi is a big brand name in Indian politics, but it should also remember the dynamics of Indian politics.

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