Throughout the campaign the issue of nationalism Pulwama and attack in Balakot in Pakistan dominated and people responded positively and acknowledged the leadership of PM Narendra Modi. BJP campaign was also helped by the communal polarisation for which aggressive Hindutva face CM Yogi Adityanath talked about Hazrat Ali and Bajrang Bali. He also talked about Pakistan and issue of terrorism.

BJP was also helped by central schemes of transfer of Rs. 2000 to famers in their accounts, gas cylinder in Ujjwala scheme, houses for weaker section of society and construction of toilets in villages. The manner in which BJP established dialogue with party leaders and workers at booth level during last five years also helped the party.

Significantly enough PM Narendra Modi and BJP national President Amit Shah also attended these meetings. BJP successfully played Kamal and mandal cards to win over people of the state. In order to win over backwards castes, BJP leaders worked on non-profit Yadav backwards and non-jatav dalits and most backwards to win over their support.

BJP not only denied tickets to those MPs found to be affected by anti-incumbency but also effected social engineering in ticket distribution. The much hyped alliance of Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and RLD could not check the march of Modi wave. The arithmetic of Yadav's of SP and jatavs of BSP and support of 18 per cent votes of Muslims could not reach at ground level. The alliance of Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati and Jat leader Ajit Singh could not enthuse their caste base at ground level to defeat BJP.

Their was no chemistry in ground level workers of their parties to ensure smooth transfer of votes despite several appeals made by Akhilesh and Mayawati and Ajit Singh. More so there was no dialogue of these leaders with the public on any issue, not there was any protest on street against ruling party.

The poor performance of gathbandhan in these elections has put question marks on the future of the alliance. The failure of Akhilesh and Mayawati to take Congress in the alliance also helped BJP more seats in UP. Mayawati and Akhilesh were more critical of Congress than BJP or PM Modi.

The election of Rahul Gandhi based on Rafael deal and raising slogan Chowkidar Chor Hai miserably failed. The much hyped Priyanka Gandhi factor also failed to help Congress Candidates and impress voters to cast their votes for party. The failure of opposition to put up joint front and single face for PM to take on Narendra Modi also helped BJP. The voters were seen asking the question if not Modi then who. The absence of credible alliance and face for PM helped BJP. (IPA Service)