Bhubaneswar: The BJP has decimated the Opposition in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and after a neck and neck fight with Congress, retained Goa for the third consecutive time. Also for the time in Uttarakhand, an incumbent government managed to return with a renewed mandate.
The Narendra Modi magic was clearly visible in the Assembly elections, particularly in UP and Uttarakhand. The Prime Minister announced the “outcome of 2022 has indicated the outcome of 2024”. Modi pointed out BJP created “history” in both UP and Uttarakhand. He pointed out, “the double-engine government has provided double safety for the people.”
According to poll pundits, while Yogi Adityanath played a key role in BJP’s performance in UP, party’s face continues to be Modi. The factor that worked in the party’s favour was charisma of the Prime Minister, Modi who relentlessly criss-crossed UP. “The results are a clear indication that “Modiji’s popularity continues to grow every day”, a BJP functionary said.
“PM Modi has changed the culture of politics. For decades, the politics was dominated by dynasts, by regionalism, sanskritikvaad (cultural dominance) etc., but today, it is the politics of development, of empowerment, empowerment of youth, women and farmers,” BJP president JP Nadda said while addressing the party workers.
In UP, the voters have been solidly behind the BJP since the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, whether in the 2017 Assembly elections, the 2019 parliamentary polls and now again in the 2022 Assembly elections.
“The BJP has been able to produce good results, which may be primarily due to the Hindutva factor. However, laced with social schemes of ration distribution during the Covid pandemic and the direct cash transfers to the farmers helped the BJP. The guiding force behind this has been our leader,” the BJP functionary added.
BJP’s expansion on an enormous scale began with the advent of Narendra Modi on the national political centrestage. As BJP retained power in these states, the National Democratic Alliance headed by it is now governing 17 states, covering 44% of India’s territory and 49.6% of its population.
As per reports, half of the speeches at poll rallies by BJP leaders were dedicated to mega development projects in the election-bound states under the leadership of Narendra Modi. The saffron party leaders banked heavily on the PM and the strategy clicked in all four states, yet again.
