Mahagathbandhan fails to make it

Shahira Naim
Tribune News Service
Lucknow, May 23

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today set the tone in Uttar Pradesh by defeating his nearest rival in Varanasi by 4.79 lakh votes, making it clear that Modi magic was very much intact that led to complete demolition of all opposition.

The most dramatic result came from Amethi as Congress president Rahul Gandhi conceded defeat to BJP's Smriti Irani even before the final result was announced. He was trailing by 47,382 votes.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi won Rae Bareli seat by 1.67 lakh votes, thus bagging the lone seat for the party in the state.

By 9.30 pm, the BJP had officially won 19 seats and was leading on 43, thus taking the effective tally to 62. Its alliance partner Apna Dal had won two seats. The BJP had won 71 seats in 2014.

The real advantage of the mahagathbandhan was reaped by the BSP as it had already won four seats and was leading on six others. The party had failed to open its account in 2014.

Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav, who single-handedly worked for the success of the mahagathbandhan, found himself in the most embarrassing situation. The SP's loss reduces the stature of the Yadav first family and puts a question mark on Akhilesh’s leadership.

Three members of the Yadav family and sitting MPs —Dimple Yadav (Kannauj), Akshay Yadav (Firozabad) and Dharmendra Yadav (Badaun) — are trailing. All three seats won during the last year’s bypoll-Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana-have been reclaimed by the saffron party.

Akhilesh Yadav was leading by 2,51,370 votes in Azamgarh, while Mulayam Singh Yadav was ahead by 93,189 votes in Mainpuri. Party's senior leader Mohammad Azam Khan defeated BJP's Jaya Prada by over one lakh votes in Rampur.

The RLD, third partner in the grand alliance, lost the Mathura seat to Hema Malini by a huge margin. Ajit Singh and his son Jayant Chaudhary were caught in neck-and-neck fights with their BJP rivals in Muzaffarnagar and Baghpat, respectively. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Unnao MP Sakshi Maharaj, Gorakhpur candidate Ravi Kishan won by huge margins of 3 lakh to 4.5 lakh.

The SP-BSP-RLD mahagathbandhan, which was projected as a bulwark against a second term for the BJP, was virtually swept away. BJP's clean sweep in the state indicates that the caste arithmetic of the SP-BSP-RLD mahagathbandhan had failed to make an impact.

While it is too early to speculate about the cause behind the grand alliance's rout, it seems while the SP votes were transferred to the BSP, the BSP voters did not reciprocate the same way, resulting in SP's poor performance.

Whether Mayawati's core Dalit vote bank is still with her or has shifted to the BJP is a matter of research.

The fate of Congress in Uttar Pradesh is clearly pitiable. It appears that contrary to claims of its leaders, it did play a spoiler for the mahagathbandhan in almost half a dozen seats, including Meerut and Badaun.

The Congress fighting on the front foot did not cut any ice as its candidates stood third in most of the 67 constituencies it had contested. AICC general secretary Priyanaka Gandhi Vadra's presence made no difference in the face of Modi magic. The crowds during her roadshows and meetings did not convert into seats for the party.

With Congress president Rahul Gandhi magnanimously conceding defeat to Union Minister Smirit Irani in Amethi, a Gandhi family bastion is lost forever.

I want to congratulate Modiji for the victory of BJP and its allies. The people have discarded negative politics of the Opposition. They have showed that the politics of pariwarwad, vanshwad and jatiwad (nepotism and casteism) will not succeed anymore — Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister

In democracy, people are the masters who have given their mandate. I congratulate Narendra Modi for the NDA’s spectacular victory. I also thank the people, especially of Bihar, who have recognised the development work carried out by both governments — Nitish Kumar, Bihar Chief Minister

This is for the first time in India that nationalism was put first in the General Election. Bhartiyta (Indianness) and nationalism were the two biggest issues in the elections. The PM’s talks on nationalism struck a chord with the common people — Sumitra Mahajan, Outgoing Lok Sabha Speaker

Heartiest congratulations to Narendrabhai Modi for steering the BJP towards this unprecedented victory. Amitbhai Shah and all dedicated workers of the party have put in enormous efforts in making sure that the message of BJP reaches every voter of the country  — Lal Krishna Advani, veteran BJP leader

We accept people’s mandate with humility. The Congress has always worked to build a strong democracy. I thank the people of the state and Congress workers for a peaceful participation in polling… The country is supreme for the Congress — Ashok Gehlot, Rajasthan Chief Minister

I accept the people’s verdict gracefully... but it is also a fact that there are doubts about EVMs. Congress performed well in Rajiv Gandhi’s time, but no one doubted the EVMs. Similarly, there were no doubts when Vajpayee won. It is not the same now — Sharad Pawar, Nationalist Congress party president

With folded hands, we accept the resounding victory given to the DMK alliance by the people of Tamil Nadu. During the next five years, we will work hard to fulfil the promises made and protect the interest of our state. I congratulate PM Narendra Modi on his win.  — MK Stalin, DMK president

Leaders of both parties will hold a discussion about loss of JDS-Congress coalition candidates. Our party has seen many victories and losses over the years and party workers need not lose heart on this loss. Let us strive to strengthen the party in the days ahead.  — HD Kumaraswamy, Karnataka Chief Minister 

The people of the country have given a decisive verdict in BJP’s favour in this highly-polarised election and it is now time for us to introspect. As the general secretary of the party, the first responsibility of the loss is with me. There will be accountability.  — Sitaram Yechury, CPM General Secretary