Breaking down and analysing the figures, here’s what probably might have helped the BJP make a cut in Uttar Pradesh.
New Delhi: In 2017, the BJP had won 312 seats and maintained a 39.67% vote share and this time, although its seat share reduced to 255, its vote share jumped to 41.29% leaving no Opposition party any chance to form the government. The Samajwadi Party (SP), which managed 111 seats, ended in a distant second place.
Breaking down and analysing the figures, here’s what probably might have helped the BJP make a cut in Uttar Pradesh.
A Divided Opposition
While the SP, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Congress are principally opposed to BJP, the parties could not get along with each other and come on one platform against the BJP. Invariably, it ended up denting each other’s vote share. In some cases, the parties also campaigned against each other, splitting the Opposition votes against the general need to consolidate against a common enemy.
Absence Of Key Leaders, Star Campaigners
While Congress’s Priyanka Gandhi Vadra could be seen addressing campaigns across Uttar Pradesh, albeit close to the election season, the others, mainly Mayawati, was completely missing from the ground.
In fact, in Mayawati’s first rally for the election from Agra she mentioned that contrary to popular belief that she is nowhere to be seen, she was busy rebuilding the party. However, the “rebuilding” she referred to could not translate into votes and the party ended up with just one seat of the 403 that were up for the grabs.
Also Read: BJP wins Uttar Pradesh Assembly election but Samajwadi Party dents vote share, seats
It is important to note that while the election was announced in the middle of January, Mayawati’s first campaign was held on February 2 where she hit out at the other Opposition parties for not doing much for the Dalits. However, it seems her words could not bolster the Dalit votes of Uttar Pradesh. According to the 2011 census, Uttar Pradesh has around 20-21% Dalits and BSP this time got around 12.88% votes.
Many SP workers believe Akhilesh Yadav’s soft and light-hearted campaigning led to the party’s defeat. While the BJP hit hard, it was Yadav alone who went around campaigning in the first three phases and much later in the fourth phase got his wife Dimple Yadav and Hema Malini to campaign for SP. Workers on ground also rue lack of micromanagement, something the BJP masters in at the booth level.
Congress’s Failed Attempt To Woo Women Voters
Congress’s “Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon” campaign was a direct target at the women voters and according to the 2011 census, the state has around 9.5 crore women against 10.4 crore men. However, although its target was on point, the party was a little late in doing so. The BJP-led government had already succeeded in bringing the women votes under its folds by offering basics — free ration and a better law an order.
One might argue that incidents such as the Unnao rape case do not talk of a better law an order situation but consistent encounters and although mired in controversy, the role of the anti-romeo squads, helped bolster confidence among women. The free ration idea was such a hit that even the SP announced a similar scheme in its campaigns in the run-up to the election.
Ram Mandir And Consolidation Of Hindu Votes
The laying of the foundation of the Ram Mandir has helped the BJP do what no other government scheme can — titillate Hindutva sentiments. Although the Covid period was substantially marked by mismanagement, with reports of lack of oxygen and floating dead bodies in the river, what perhaps helped the BJP was that none of the issues were tangible. It is human psyche to forget what is not in front of us but the Ram Mandir is very much in front of the people and is constantly succeeding in overshadowing any other issue.
