New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS): There is no gainsaying the fact that the BJP has staged a considerable comeback under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after some setbacks in the Lok Sabha polls of 2024.
Convincing victories in Haryana, Maharashtra, and now in Delhi are examples that bear testimony to the BJP's resilience.
In what is termed as a political resurgence, the BJP’s assembly poll performances signal not only a recovery from earlier setbacks but also reinforce PM Modi's position as the central figure in the politics of India.
It is common knowledge that the BJP faced unexpected challenges during the parliamentary polls last year.
The party's performance was not as per expectations then. As a result, it left political observers questioning its dominance.
However, BJP's impressive victories later in Maharashtra and Haryana and now in Delhi busted the myth about the party losing its shine and charisma.
After the parliamentary polls, the BJP’s strategic approach and PM Modi’s leadership quickly changed the situation.
The party focused on addressing local concerns, bolstering its organisational strength, and engaging with grassroots voters in Haryana where it could not perform well in the Lok Sabha election.
For a party that had no seats in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections in Haryana, BJP had come a long way with its clean sweep of all 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana in 2019 and a record vote share of 58 per cent.
This tally went down to half in the 2024 elections along with an over 10 per cent drop in vote share. But the party continued to work hard after 2024 and subsequently, by dint of hard work it retained power in Haryana.
Similarly, the BJP managed to maintain its dominance in Maharashtra, driven by PM Modi's political acumen and the party's ability to navigate the complex regional dynamics.
The MahaYuti alliance led by BJP in Maharashtra had secured 230 seats out of the 288 seats in the state Assembly. As the dominant partner in the alliance, which also includes Shiv Sena and NCP, the BJP alone claimed 132 seats, surpassing the total tally of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition.
The victory in Maharashtra highlighted the BJP's acceptability and the ongoing charisma and influence of PM Modi's leadership in uniting diverse political factions.
If the BJP's comeback after LS polls is in discussion, the Uttar Pradesh by-poll results cannot be left aside. In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP made a strong recovery by winning 7 out of the 9 seats in the bypolls.
This impressive performance marked a significant rebound for the party after the setback in the Lok Sabha elections.
But the win in Delhi has really demonstrated the BJP’s resilience and its ability to overcome the challenges.
After a decade of AAP dominance in Delhi, which has seen the rise of Arvind Kejriwal and his party's impressive governance claims, the BJP has clinched a resounding victory in the Delhi Assembly elections.
In what is being seen as a historic victory, the BJP got 48 seats out of 70, while AAP was left trailing with just 22. This victory not only restored the BJP's political dominance in the national capital but also shattered AAP's dreams of a third consecutive term.
The defeat of Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and other AAP leaders over corruption allegations cemented the BJP’s comeback.
The BJP gained power after a long gap of 26 years in the national capital.
The 2024 setbacks and subsequent victories in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Delhi under PM Modi's leadership will serve to further strengthen the BJP's resolve, say observers.
The party's ability to bounce back and regain its foothold in critical seats showcases its political resilience and PM Modi's enduring appeal across India’s diverse electoral spheres, say analysts.