The last important election mandates before the crucial 2019 Lok Sabha election is of high importance for all the political parties to get a sense of electorate’s mind and psyche, especially when it has covered the large chunk of politically formidable Hindi Belt. Tough many have opined that the local issues have dominated the elections outcome, but it is noteworthy to mention that electorates have shown a clear inclination that they want to hear more on development and governance in political discourses, unlike many previous instances where cast, creed, dynasty and polarization along religious fault line decided the election outcomes.

Not to forget, Narendra Modi led BJP won the huge mandate of people in 2014 based on promises of good governance and development. The discourses on dynastic politics and religious polarization were still there but those were only of miniscule importance. No doubt, these factors had contributed to the winning side to consolidate its own constituency of voters, but promise of good governance was the key. Surprisingly the preference of voters remains the same even after four and half years. Misadventure to bring religious polarization in forefront and personal attacks in the veil of dynasty-politics have became up-the-ante for BJP.

Unlike Telangana where the election was fought on the developmental plank by KTR, it was a bitter fight between BJP and Congress in Hindi heart belt of MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh where the political discourse did not even spare deceased father, mother, grandfather, grandmother of the opponents . Realizing an anti-incumbency factor of BJP ruled states, the state election had been metamorphosed to a fight of personality cult between Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi, a supposedly clever move by BJP. Jibe against Rahul’s Gotra or Modi’s cast and issues like soft Hindutva, hard Hindutva hijacked the political discourse in these elections. Fringe elements having patronage of political parties did their job dutifully by creating noise of religious polarization. Delhi media houses covered and discussed those non-issues at length like personality cult, Hindutva or Ram Mandir and a perception was crafted that the elections were fought based on these trivial issues. All were discussed except the state wise future plan on development, governance, farmer distress, Water, jobs and new industry.

People in good numbers thronged in the election rallies of Modi and Yogi which created a superficial euphoria amongst the BJP and media that the election would result an intended outcome. People listened to all of them patiently, but alas they had something else in their mind. Post election there was analysis where it was revealed that BJP lost 65% of the seats where Yogi had rallies, although the effect of Modi’s rallies is a bit decent. A high pitch campaign around development issues was missing, so were the voices of local state level leaders. It appears that the grass root level party workers of congress had created traction in booth level which resulted high turnout of voters in polling day, which is always a sure sign of anti-incumbency.

Coming to power by promulgating good governance and development is an age old practice in politics where the incumbent government faces anti-incumbency. All the political parties do that. BJP also did that in 2014 but Modi became just a bit over enthusiast on promising. Those promises captured in bold at electorate’s mind. This becomes a trap for BJP as these narratives supersede all other narratives of BJP whether at state level or at central level. It is evident from the fact that all the BJP ruled states always display achievements of all public welfare schemes by promulgating it as Prime Minister’s vision and mission of New India, even the local government’s initiatives fail to miss the all encompassing Modi flavors as if everything is derived from Prime Minister only.

These have blurred the distinction of Centre and State Government’s work and governance. That may be the directive of the party and its leadership. Then why to blame local leaders after poll debacle? Deriving a distinct between Modi factor and Local factor becomes insignificant. So aligning everything central government schemes and using Modi’s popularity as a tool to win elections have started giving diminishing returns. Needless to say, if BJP continues to so, it will create further fatigue in the mind of the voters.

They need to innovate further the strategy to win election. Issue of governance may now look like a trap to seek support from voters. But still there are many good initiatives taken by state and central governments which now need to be executed with strong hands at short span of time. Honest narratives around those initiatives will work and people of India may be willing to give more time to Prime Minister Modi, who knows. Any other clever move by pushing Polarization through Hindutva or Dynasty issues in the forefront will not yield any positive poll dividend. Situation has changed and 2019 Lok Sabha election is not far away. Let’s walk the talk on the execution of government initiatives as governance comes first. (IPA Service)