What appeared to be a cakewalk for Congress until two months ago has been turned into a respectable fight by the BJP with the contest to elect a new 230-member Assembly likely to go down to the wire. Both the ruling BJP and the Congress claim to be getting a comfortable majority, but the outcome could rest on about 40 seats which could be anybody's in a state which is not known for the razzmatazz associated with campaigns and heightened visible activity in the buildup to an election.
While BJP leaders claim the party would win 135 seats, the Congress state leadership is claiming they will win a comfortable two-third majority when the results are declared on 3 December. But both the parties are wary of the damage a third party or independents may inflict on key seats.
Political analysts say the 40 swing seats, where the margin of victory in 2018 was less than 5,000, could land in anybody's pocket and change the entire scenario. For example, they cite interesting election statistics that reflect the unpredictability in the state. In the 2018 Assembly contest, the BJP won 1.56 crore votes in the entire state and the Congress got 1.55 crore votes, yet the Congress got six more seats than the BJP.
The Congress vote share was 40.9%, while that of the BJP was 41%. The 47 tribal seats out of which 31 were won by the Congress in 2018 pose the biggest challenge for the BJP in the 17 November election.
PERCEPTION WARS
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 05, 2023-Ausgabe von The Sunday Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 05, 2023-Ausgabe von The Sunday Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
RAIL PSUs UNDER SCRUTINY FOR GIVING UNAUTHORIZED FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
Railtel sources said that despite the body having its own cadre that is enough to handle the operations, successive CMDs are bringing officials close to them on deputation to the PSU.
Is China swindling Nepal over repayment of Pokhara airport loan?
It has been claimed that China's loan to Nepal is being serviced at 5% and not 2%, as publicly claimed by China.
Has American democracy become a farce?
The numerous think-tanks that routinely place India at near bottom in democracy and media freedom rankings haven’t uttered a word about how this trial of Donald Trump is a direct and frontal assault on democracy.
CAN INDIA FOSTER PEACE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE?
Will India join the upcoming Switzerland peace summit aimed at ending the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis and bringing peace in the region? Switzerland is all set to host the summit on 15-16 June.
Will political parties agree on one nation, one election?
Will political parties that are continuously complaining about the system during the elections, be ready to pass a unanimous proposal in Parliament for election reforms?
FIVE REGIONAL PARTIES STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL
The leaders of these parties do not have clarity about their political future and therefore are jumping over to other parties.
Did playing the caste card help the Opposition?
Rahul forgot that Indira and Rajiv Gandhialways maintained a distance from caste politics. He got it into his head that caste was the way forward.
EXIT POLLS SUGGEST A TIGHT RACE IN MAHARASHTRA
There could be a tight race in Maharashtra with NDA and I.N.D.I.A bloc running neck and neck.
HOW EXIT POLLS FARED IN 2014 AND 2019
Exit polls predicted the NDA forming government easily. Yet no exit poll could predict the rout of UPA in both the Lok Sabha elections.
HIMACHAL PRADESH WITNESSES HIGH VOTER TURNOUT IN FINAL PHASE OF ELECTION
High voter turnout marks the final phase of Himachal Pradesh's Lok Sabha and Assembly bypolls: prominent leaders cast ballots early
