The BJP jumped into the battlefield boasting that sweeping victories were awaiting them in all the five states/UT. Their strategy was the same as they tried to cement their position in Assam and Pondicherry and to capture power in Bengal, Tamil Nadu and even in Kerala. Modi-Shah duo themselves were leading the battle from the front claiming that the whole of India would be following their footprints. Muscle power and money power were mobilized upto unimaginable levels. The amount of black money pumped into the election fray by the ruling party would remain as an all-time shame for them. The Election Commission of India was turned into a mute spectator. Under their stewardship, the COVID protocol and restrictions were thrown to the dustbin. When the country was reeling under the fierce spread of COVID 19, prime minister and the home minister were finding pleasure in leading mammoth road shows everywhere. The ever-increasing death tolls due to non-availability of oxygen and ventilators did not bother them. In a most cunning manner, they misused religion and faith in their ugly pursuit for political power. But the people of India gave them the deserving rejoinder. The secular minded patriotic masses of three states gave the BJP a crushing defeat.

The historic victory of the LDF once again proved that Kerala continues as the unshakable fortress of the Left. As the Congress led UDF and the BJP'S NDA both faced defeat, the LDF won 99 seats in the 140-member assembly. Both the Congress and BJP were fighting in tandem to oust the LDF from power. BJP even went to the extent of ridiculous projections such as, winning 35 seats they would form the new government in Kerala. Anchoring hope on the Congress support and the BJP government at the Centre they openly talked about a BJP government in Kerala led by Metro man E Sreedharan. Politically enlightened masses aborted the BJP dream and even closed the one-member account that they managed to open with the Congress support in the assembly in 2016 elections. The election results in Kerala are so sharp and convincing that the Kerala model of development is the alternative before the nation. Its political plank is the programmatic alliance between the left and democratic forces. Naturally, the program was people oriented, not profit centred. During the crisis of Nipah, floods and pandemic, the LDF government led by Pinarayi Vijayan stood with the people with utmost sincerity and preparedness. Even in the most difficult days of the crisis no one in Kerala, including migrant labourers remained hungry. Food kits reached at the doorsteps of every households. Social welfare pensions were also guaranteed to all deserving persons. Kerala was and is the only state where the government fulfilled all its promises made by them to people, paving a new path of development. This people centric aspect of the Kerala model needs to be taken to the masses of India by the left, democratic and secular forces. With such a clarity, preparation for the forthcoming elections in various states has to be initiated much in advance.

The victory of the DMK led front also has its own lessons for the nation. The left parties also played their due role in ensuring this victory. Though AIADMK was the leading partner of the BJP front, it was only on account of the number of contesting seats. The political leadership of that front was in the hands of BJP, directly controlled by Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. But the people of Tamil Nadu shattered their dreams in the land of Periyar Ramaswamy Nayakar. Tamil Nadu emphatically proclaimed that the communal-casteist politics of RSS controlled BJP has no space in that soil. In West Bengal the verdict was of a different nature. The people’s mandate was in favour of All India Trinamool Congress. There too the BJP came to the scene with a plan of government formation. But they could never reach near the needed number. Though the colossal defeat of the BJP is a positive element in the Bengal results, there are serious issues rising from these results before the Left to be resolved. For the first time in the history of India, an assembly without the presence of Left is coming into existence in Bengal. It was never expected. The left front and all its constituent parties would surely make in-depth analysis of this electoral debacle. The Communist parties know from their own experience that no defeat would be the end of history. The Communist ideology and its faultless application would help them to do the necessary self-critical evaluation of the Bengal lessons.

The achievements BJP made in Assam and Pondicherry would automatically be nullified by their imposing defeat in the above said three states. But a most right reactionary party like BJP will not learn any lesson from their experience. They would try to cover up their defeats by intensifying their attack on the country's secular foundation. Communal-fascist agenda will be broadened to fan up violence and hatred in the society. Religion and state will be hijacked to divide the unity of the masses, draconian laws like farm laws and labour codes would be used to suppress the rights of the working people and to serve the greed of the corporates. Fascism everywhere has only one master, the exploiting class. Only one path, the path of racial pride and corporate greed. RSS-BJP in all likelihood would be treading that path in the coming days. The election results tell the people of India to be vigilant to face the challenges. The results provide them ample reasons to believe that BJP can be defeated if there is a reliable alternative. (IPA Service)