- Since the last few months, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s top leadership must have felt greatly deflated by the eventual outcome of the Lok Sabha election results when all exit poll/ reports/articles/opinions and discussions were unanimous in declaring a comfortable majority for the alliance. However, what eventually turned out was contrary to those predictions. Of course, the BJP did emerge as the single largest party by winning 240 seats and the National Democratic Alliance forming the Union Government for the third successive time beating the supposedly anti-incumbency factor quite comfortably. Nonetheless, there was that sense of disappointment when the BJP could not muster a comfortable majority on its own.
PC: Money Control
- On the other hand, the Congress’s improved performance was construed and projected as a major achievement by the opposition even though the fact remains that the Grand Old Party could not cross the three-digit numbers and the UPA was confined to essaying the opposition role. However, the disposition of Congress and the INDI alliance metamorphosed quite assertively against the ruling dispensation after the results. Thus, the state assembly elections to Haryana and the Union Territory of J&K were always considered a crucial factor in determining how and where the political wind was blowing. The Congress was absolutely certain it would score a comfortable majority in Haryana after ten years of BJP rule. Anti-incumbency in Haryana was palpable too.
- Indeed, the media reports and exit polls unanimously projected Congress would win the Haryana elections with a thumping majority and the NC-Congress alliance in J&K would lead the win in forming the government there as well. The day of the counting was anticipated with an understanding outlook by the people as well as the political parties about the eventual outcome. Now, the Indian electorate of late has shown time and again how they cannot be taken for granted anymore by choosing to elect their representatives depending on the factors that matter most to them. The initial hours of counting and the trend suggested the script would be played out as projected. Then came the shocking reversal of trends that made everybody surprised.
PC : Deccan Chronicle
- Not only the emerging trend suggested how the BJP was racing ahead of Congress in Haryana but was poised to comfortably cross the majority mark as well. Forget about the state Congress leadership receiving the shock of their lives but also would have left the BJP satraps even more shocked by the fast-changing fortunes. As is their wont, the Congress leadership was quick to denounce the results as unacceptable and question the EVM functionality yet again. Did someone mention it’s a case of sour grapes? Indeed, it is. There were no surprises in the J&K election result though with the National Conference-Congress alliance crossing the coveted majority mark with flying colours. The BJP leadership must be heaving a sigh of relief with this electoral outcome.
