- People familiar with the Indian political churnings will know that the ensuing legislative assembly elections to five states viz. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram will not only be keenly watched by interested parties within the country but also overseas. Why? Simply because soon after the state legislative assembly elections are concluded, the mother of all elections the Parliamentary Elections will be conducted in May 2024. As such, these five states going to the polls will indicate which way the political wind is blowing revealing what lies in store for the nation. Of course, the two main protagonists in these elections will be none other than the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress alongside allies propping up the two sides.
PC: The wire
- We are aware of how the election machinery of the BJP keeps chugging along relentlessly from one election after another. There simply exists no words like relaxation or complacency for the BJP’s well-oiled election machinery. It is fascinating to note how the BJP manages to hone the machinery by adopting newer methodologies to challenge the opposition. Except for Chhattisgarh which goes to polls on two dates, all four states will go to polls on a single day. The polling exercise will commence from 07th November till 30th November and the results will be declared on 03rd December 2023. The moot point to ponder over here is how the electorate views these polls and whom they choose to govern for the next five years.
- Rajasthan has always been a revolving door with the incumbent government paving the way for the opposition to assume power. It will be interesting to observe what will be the eventual outcome in the state this time around. Note that the ruling Congress in Rajasthan had to deal with dissidence activities between the two groups led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and the increasingly impatient young leader Sachin Pilot itching to take on the mantle of running the government. Sachin Pilot has made no bones about hiding his ambitions on more than one occasion. Here, the BJP stands a chance of returning to power provided it plays the moves more prudently given that many aspirational leaders are wishing to sit on the coveted CM’s post.
PC: PTI
- Madhya Pradesh is governed by the BJP which came to power by engineering defection from the Congress. We know how Jyotiraditya Scindia defected to the BJP leading to the collapse of the Congress government that paved the way for the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led dispensation to lay hands on the state. Will the BJP succeed in retaining MP? We need to wait. Chhattisgarh is firmly with the Congress and unless the electorate wishes to abandon the party, the Grand Old Party must be able to retain it. But cannot rule out the BJP altogether either. Except for a miracle, Telangana will remain with KCR for this term for sure. Will it be a semi-final of sorts before the grand finale in April-May 2023? Hard to guess. But will subtly indicate the electorate’s preferences.
