Nitish, Naidu Kingmakers As BJP Is Cut Short By Indian Voters

The regional satraps, JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar and the TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu, have been made kingmakers by the Lok Sabha election results. With the BJP short of majority in Lok Sabha elections, no government can come to power without them. Both parties — JD(U) and TDP —have re-pledged their allegiance to the NDA. Although in the meeting held by NDA on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was endorsed as the alliance leader, hard bargaining by partners for key portfolios and concessions for their states played out in the background. As per sources, Chandrababu Naidu indicated he wanted the Lok Sabha Speaker’s post for his party, in addition to special category status for his state Andhra Pradesh. Naidu had reportedly also demanded the home and defence portfolios. Bihar chief minister and JDU leader Nitish Kumar too expressed demand for similar concessions, in addition to telling the central government to carry out a countrywide caste census, similar to the one he has conducted in Bihar. Janata Dal United has said the party would seek a review of the Centre’s ‘Agnipath’ scheme for recruitment in the armed forces, in which only four years of service was granted. Meanwhile, Naidu did not clarify to the BJP leadership whether the TDP would be part of the government at the Centre, or if it would extend outside support. According to sources, TDP said that the party may join the government after negotiations. Modi has assigned defence minister Rajnath Singh and BJP chief JP Nadda to conduct the meetings and discussions with partner leaders for finalising the state for the government formation. The new NDA is expected to have a convenor and carry out numerous coordination meetings.

RAHUL’S TWIN VICTORIES FROM RAEBARELI, WAYANAD: WHICH ONE HE’LL LEAVE?

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s twin victories in the two Lok Sabha constituencies — Raebareli and Wayanad— has triggered a suspense over which of the two seats Rahul will leave. UP leaders have commenced making emotional appeals to the Rahul to continue to retain his family’s stronghold. Rahul won the Raebareli Lok Sabha seat by a margin of 390,030 votes, while his margin of victory in Wayanad was 364,422. Rahul thanked the voters by saying: “I have won from both the seats and I want to whole heartedly thank the voters of Raebareli and Wayanad. Now I have to decide which seat I will stay on, will discuss and then decide. Can’t hold on to both the seats but I haven’t decided yet.” The impressive show by the INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh may necessitate Gandhi’s presence in Raebareli to further challenge the BJP in the Hindi heartland. Though the Congress leadership here is tight-lipped over Rahul Gandhi choosing Raebareli over Wayanad, party insiders say that for the future of the Congress, Rahul should retain the Uttar Pradesh constituency. However, a section of the Congress leaders has already started a campaign within the party demanding that if Rahul decides to retain Raebareli, Priyanka Gandhi should contest from Wayanad.

BJP TACTICS BOOMERANG IN MAHARASHTRA, HARYANA; CONGRESS GAINS

The election results in Maharashtra and Haryana have raised alarm bells for the BJP, with the Assembly polls scheduled in both the states later this year. The BJP’s aggressive claim and bid to exceed the limits and engineer splits in the two principal parties of Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena and the NCP, boomeranged in the Lok Sabha election. BJP received a similar blow in Haryana, losing half of the total 10 Lok Sabha seats, fuelled by a simmering anger among Jat farmers and youths aggrieved over the Agnipath scheme in the armed forces. In 2019, BJP had made a clean sweep in the state in Lok Sabha polls and remained in power for two straight terms since 2014 in the state. In Maharashtra, Congress emerged as the best performer and won 13 seats, while the Uddhav-led Shiv Sena has won 9 seats and the NCP (Sharad Pawar) has won 8. The Congress also appeared to have reaped the advantage of voters’ sympathy for Uddhav and Pawar. The Congress was contesting in 17, Uddhav Sena in 21 and the Sharad Pawar NCP in 10 seats.

BJP DOES WELL IN KARNATAKA, CONGRESS BACKSLIDES FROM ASSEMBLY GAINS

The five guarantees highlighted out by the Congress in Karnataka did not translate into victory for the party, as the Opposition BJP-Janata Dal Secular alliance won in 19 of the 28 seats. The defeat of DK Suresh has become a question mark on the capability of his elder brother and deputy chief minister D.K. Shivakumar. The BJP maintained its chokehold on coastal Karnataka, Bengaluru and a prominent number of north Karnataka segments. But the Congress made deep inroads in the north of the state, for long considered a pocket borough of the BJP. The Congress has won 9 seats and BJP had won 17 seats and JD(S) has won 2 seats.

INDIA BLOC DECIDES TO SIT IN OPPOSITION FOR NOW

The INDIA bloc on June 6 decided to wait and watch the twist and turns in the shaky NDA camp, preferring to continue the fight against the BJP. The decision was taken at a meeting of 33 leaders from 20 parties chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Reading out the resolution adopted at the meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said: “The constituents of INDIA bloc thank the people of India for the overwhelming support received by our alliance. The people’s mandate has given (a) befitting reply to the BJP and their politics of hate, corruption and deprivation. This is a mandate in defence of the Constitution of India and against price rise, unemployment and crony capitalism, and also to save democracy. The INDIA bloc will continue to fight against the fascist rule of the BJP led by Modi. We will take appropriate steps at the appropriate time to realise the people’s desire not to be ruled by the BJP’s government and this is our decision.” Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said at the meeting some BJP MPs were ready to negotiate with them, sources said. SP chief Akhilesh told the leaders that they managed to demolish the ‘Modi Brand’ and now they should go together and take a step back to help each other when needed. (IPA Service)