Few important things to note before we get on to the results.
1) Analysts & observers can go wrong, sometimes less sometimes more. Only thing where they were almost right this time was SP would be single largest party in UP, getting majority was something even they could not fore-see.
2) Local issues and tastes of masses need to be addressed. It is important for National parties to follow the Global MNC’s in their approach: Think Global but Act Local or else they will end up becoming insignificant in most states moving forward.
3) Personalities work but work only with proper support system in place. Hype is sometimes not translated to results.
4) Though Anna may have got lost in background post Dec, media may have forgot public ire against scams & price rise, the voting masses seem to have not. For a change, their memory has stretched and few things have got stuck in their sub conscious mind along with hearts. Ire may not be on roads, but results indicate Centre needs to be careful.
5) Media sometimes operates at 100 feet over ground & fails to pick up exact ground reality.
6) Elders experience & persona coupled with youth passion & vision seems to be a winning formula this time on political horizon.
Congress went on the front foot, but it missed the ball & has got stumped. It would again have to start in the crease, a bit demoralized, probably on the back foot. Mixed news for BJP though: It managed to retain Punjab with SAD, wrestled Goa, is somewhere there even in Uttaranchal; but has failed badly to benefit from Anti incumbency in UP. Regional parties have yet again proved their importance: SP & SAD have proved their mettle against the National parties. If 2014 would be the finals, then opposition seems to have won this semi finals of 2012.
UP: Starting with the most important state. BSP faced the anti incumbency; SP has taken all the benefit of this leaving the other 2 players high and dry. Though vote share wise, BSP is still a force to reckon with 26% vote share. But a fall of 4% votes from their 2007 share has cost them a whopping 126 seats along with the rule bringing down their tally to 80. Akhilesh Yadav has subtly wrestled back power for his father, Cycle crushing the elephant with outstanding 224 seats and a clear mandate! As for the other 2 contenders, both BJP & Congress need to do some self introspection. Irrespective of how badly critics bash them, a true fact is both failed to rise to the occasion. BJP has just managed 47 seats, 4 less than last time. If Uma failed for BJP, Rahul Gandhi’s dedicated, sustained & aggressive efforts failed to translate into votes. With 28 seats, 6 more than 2007, this would hurt them. The pro quota frenzy seemed to have little buyers & more sellers to their dismay. They were not in race to top the charts but the way they lost, will haunt them for long. As for Rahul, critics may bash him failing after Bihar, but the way he accepted taking blame for the loss and learning lesson from it; it seems the battle might be lost but the war is still far from over for him. With an increase in % votes for party in state, he may be down but not completely out & may have a long journey to cover in the state. Probably the ground needs to be built before his efforts can do the trick for his party. Till then Ms. Bahuguna & Mr. Digvijay Singh can take the blame for poor showing shielding their leader. But losing in strong holds of Amethi & Rae Bareily is something which would have tough explanation. At the centre too this will have implications. SP will have more say now, Congress will need to figure out how to operate in the maze between Trinamool, SP & BSP!
Uttarakhand: The only state which could not decide with results as to who would be the next CM. BJP was expected to lose comprehensively but still getting 31 seats behind Congress’s 32 will not hurt much. Khanduri succeeded in saving BJP from visible rout, but the general could not save his individual seat! Now the Govt formation will depend on the BSP & others accounting the rest 7 seats.
Punjab: Akali Dal has defied history by becoming first party to be voted back to power in 4 decades along with their partners BJP. SAD-BJP combined won again 68 seats, Congress failed to get the expected victory from the Badal’s getting only 46 seats.
Goa: BJP swept the state thanks to the mining issue! Another loss in Congress kitty.
Manipur: If there was any good news for Congress today, then it could find solace in retaining Manipur which had limited players.
We all would wait for the day when leaders would compete to perform and win rather than just try to promise & win. The lesson for all parties: Kindly perform or perish! People will vote for you if you would work for them.
