BJPs spectacularly historic electoral feat in UP has altered the political dynamics of the state forever and heralded the emergence of a new brand of politics, less reliant on explicit caste based identity politics of 1990s. BJP derailed the juggernaut of incumbent SP and left the BSP biting dust on the ground. The two formidable heavyweights of UP politics have been trounced, along with the Congress. To call it a BJP victory would be an understatement, it is an electoral tsunami, a temblor whose shockwaves were felt throughout the nation. After all, this was the biggest election of 2017, and India’s political heartland matters a lot in national politics. Now BJP will be able to have a comfortable majority in the Rajya Sabha, upper house of the parliament.
Out of 403 assembly seats, BJP won staggering 312 seats( 3/4th of the total), and it’s regional allies, including Apna Dal, another 13. There are many reasons for this phenomenal victory of BJP:
– Multi pronged strategies for different regions of UP, robust organisational cadre of RSS and popularisation of BJPs electoral manifesto promising infrastructure development, economic growth and employment generation in the state.
– Grass root mobilisation by RSS cadre, well coordinated canvassing and campaigning, along with social media presence.
– Outgoing CM Akhilesh Yadav also showcased his development model, but it seems infighting within the party and anti-incumbency sentiments took its toll.
– Disgruntlement of the people with the two parties – SP & BSP –who alternate in power and do little for economic development except promoting nepotism and enriching their respective caste based patronage networks.
– PM Modi’s charisma and thunderous rhetorical oratory made the election all about him. Personalised attacks and digs at him by Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi proved counterproductive, self defeating and could not puncture the enduring aura of Modi.
– Demonetisation seemed to have no effect on voting patterns, and on the contrary it was to BJPs advantage. PM Modi’s Indira Gandhi like campaigning and election speeches ensuring that a vote for BJP is a vote for him did played a crucial role.
– BJP banked on anti incumbency + the alliance of upper castes + non Yadav OBCs + non Jatav Dalits it cobbled. This electoral engineering payed unexpectedly rich dividends.
– BJP won the Muslim majority town of Deoband, the centre of the most influential Muslim seminary in India, and all seats in Aligarh and Agra. Most Muslim majority seats won by BJP.
– There has been voting cutting across caste and religious lines, and solely on agendas. Identity politics of caste stands diluted as compared to earlier.
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