BJP triumphs in North India, Congress holds southern ground

The term Hindi belt’ patti) is being used for nine Hindi-speaking states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Jharkhand, Delhi, etc.

- BADRI NARAYANAN

In the recently held state assembly elections across five states, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved significant victories in three North Indian Hindi-speaking states - Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan. Conversely, the Congress Party, the primary contender in these states, faced defeat but managed to form a government in the southern state of Telangana. The outcomes have sparked discussions on the political and electoral landscape, with a perceived 'north-south divide' gaining attention among politicians and media circles.

Senthil Kumar, a Member of Parliament from the Dravida Munetra Kazhgam(DMK), recently made a statement in Parliament, suggesting that the BJP might only win in Hindi-speaking ‘gaumutra’ states. This remark triggered a heated debate in political and media circles, leading to a flurry of reactions on social media. The term ‘Hindi belt’ (patti) is being used for nine Hindi-speaking states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Jharkhand, Delhi, etc. According to the 2011 census, 43.6 percent of Indians claim Hindi as their mother tongue, while approximately 58 percent are recorded as Hindi speakers. The term ‘cow belt’ historically represented the agrarian economy of the Ganga-Jamuna basin, where these Hindi-speaking states are located. However, in a more satirical context, the DMK parliamentarian used the term in a regressive manner.