A+| A| A-
In Search of a Strong Opposition
Dreamscapes that provide an alternative to right-wing politics cannot be imagined but need to be realised.
More than a week has passed since the legislative assembly election results of the five states were announced. Uttar Pradesh (UP), Uttarakhand, Manipur, and Goa saw a generous mandate in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) saw a landslide victory in Punjab.
In UP, the BJP, with an increased vote share, won 255 seats to comfortably retain power. The narrative for the BJP’s performance includes claims of welfarism and public security; however, undoubtedly, the deepening communal polarisation in consonance with a consolidated traditional upper-caste voter base and cultivation of an Other Backward Class support have helped the party. The Samajwadi Party emerged as the main opposition with 111 seats, and its vote share margins seem quite impressive despite it lacking the support of the propaganda machinery both official and unofficial. Its ally in west UP, the Rashtriya Lok Dal won eight seats, but the expected farmers’ consolidation did not wholly materialise. Meanwhile, the Congress weakened its position, but the dismal performance by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in UP, with one seat and a 12.88% vote share grabbed attention.
Dear Reader,
Or
To gain instant access to this article (download).
(Readers in India)
(Readers outside India)
