- People keenly following the fortunes of politics in India must have been excitedly awaiting the outcome of the state assembly elections concluded in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Keralam, and UT of Puducherry, respectively. Agreed, India as a country is always in the midst of one or the other election is stating the obvious. However, every election is indeed different, and offering diverse dynamics makes these polls extremely engaging, exciting, and enticing for those immensely interested/invested in the same. Undoubtedly, all eyes were on the high-pitch, highly volatile, and deeply bruising West Bengal election, with the incumbent government of the Trinamool Congress led by three-time Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee aiming for a fourth win.
PC: Frontline – The Hindu
- The adjacent state of Assam was already led by the BJP/NDA combine. Nonetheless, what must have caught the interest of the people was the claim made by the incumbent CM Himanta Biswa Sarma of the BJP winning the election with a clear majority. Down South in Tamil Nadu, the revolving nature of the politics, with the two Dravidian parties winning after a term, was usually anticipated. No one thought the cinema star Joseph Vijay’s TVK making electoral debut would offer a serious challenge. Keralam’s electoral outcome between the Left-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF was also expected to throw little surprise from the usual trope. However, what turned out with the results announced would make for a blockbuster reading for the keen observers.
PC: Business Today
- The BJP’s determined approach to the cause, focused attention on local issues, highlighting rampant corruption and the cut money method adopted by the TMC cadre, the minority appeasement measures, law & order, and repeated failure of the administration to address issues of concern, apparently paid rich dividends. The thumping victory, winning 207 seats by the BJP, is not only remarkable but also carries future significance even as the INDI bloc endures yet another defeat. The saffron surge in some of the most critical states over the last few years must be deflating for the opposition ranks. The Assam victory with a clear majority of its own adds to the BJP’s firm grip in the state, as well as consolidating CM Himanta’s hands even further.
PC: The South First
- Of course, cinestar Joseph Vijay’s spectacular electoral debut victory and relegating the two old Dravidian parties to the margins must be marked as nothing short of historical. Even though TVK has not been blessed with a majority of its own, Vijay will be adorning the CM’s chair, which is not in dispute at all. Where do the results leave the Grand Old Party, though? Keralam victory will not offset the fact that the Congress stands decimated in Assam and West Bengal, allowing the other opposition parties to openly question the leadership of Rahul Gandhi to stymie the spread of the BJP in the days ahead. Puducherry returns to the NDA alliance yet again. Save for the South, the BJP-led NDA’s march across the country appears unhindered.
