Opposition Parties Upbeat After Assembly Poll Outcome

NEW DELHI:  The Assembly outcome in the five states, termed as the ‘semi-finals’ to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, has thrown up one clear marker -- that the BJP has suffered a major setback in all three states that it was ruling, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. In Telangana, its number of seats has decreased. 

That the BJP’s communal and divisive agenda did not work enough and its plank of ‘vikas’ took a backseat seems to have left its leadership shell-shocked, especially with the results Chhattisgarh which saw the rout of its longest-serving Chief Minister. Speaking to NDTV, KJ Alphons, a minister in the Modi cabinet, said, “We thought we were going to win Chhattisgarh hands down”, adding that “we have to go back to the drawing board, that is something we do very effectively.”

Meanwhile, the Congress, boosted by the new-found aggression of its president, Rahul Gandhi during the campaign, was delighted by the results in the Hindi heartland.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, while expressing dismay with the party’s tally in Telangana, said the victory in the Hindi heartland was of “Congress workers, farmers, shop-keepers and small businessmen”. He said Congress had defeated BJP in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and also acknowledged the work done by the BJP governments during their tenure in the three states. He, however, continued his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not keeping his promise on jobs, and hinted at a “stronger” Opposition alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said, “We nearly defeated PM Modi, Amit Shah in their own state. Today’s result is a sign.”

On Telangana Rashtra Samiti’s victory in Telengana, its leader K Chandrashekar Rao, said: “I am happy that my agenda and manifesto have been accepted by the people of the state. The youth of the state have a sadness in them that they are not getting employment opportunities. We will cover all the sections of the society in the state and work for their benefit.”

Janata Dal (Secular) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Devegowda, tweeted, “The intentions of making India 'Congress-free',' opposition-free' shows the arrogance of BJP. The people have made this nation 'arrogance-free' by voting out BJP. At least now, the BJP should put some efforts to make this nation 'problem-free' and stop the unwanted 'travel-spree'.”

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted, “Victory of democracy and victory against injustice, atrocities, destruction of institutions, misuse of agencies, no work for poor people, farmers, youth, Dalits, SC, ST, OBC, minorities and general caste.”

Commenting on the results, Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “Modi Government’s days are numbered”.