WHILE AN IMPRESSIVE victory in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 marked the beginning of an era of the BJP’s dominance in Indian politics, it was the saffron party’s spectacular show in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in 2017 that triggered an all-out attempt to push its ideological agenda. The party won 312 of 403 seats in the state, setting the tone for another thumping victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Now, just about six months remain for the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, and the results will define the contours of the country’s politics in the next few years.
Assembly elections will also be held in Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Manipur in 2022. These states account for 102 Lok Sabha seats. Later in the year, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat will go to the polls.
Interestingly, these elections will be a test for four first-time BJP chief ministers—Yogi Adityanath in Uttar Pradesh, Pushkar Singh Dhami in Uttarakhand, Pramod Sawant in Goa, and N. Biren Singh in Manipur. Unlike the Lok Sabha elections, most assembly elections since 2014 have been tricky for the BJP, especially in states where it was in power. It either lost them or came back with a diminished mandate—or with the help of turncoats.
Esta historia es de la edición September 19, 2021 de THE WEEK.
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Ram temple not an issue in south
Much has been said this election season about the alleged north-south divide.
Haute and sweaty
In Mumbai, where I live and work, there is a severe heatwave going on. The highest temperature this month has been 40 degrees, sweltering and humid for the coastal city.
MOVE AWAY MARY!
In many parts of the world,unique names are becoming popular
CALL OF THE WILD
Tejas Thackeray, the younger son of former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, shares his passion for wildlife conservation and photography
CEPA and beyond
Bilateral trade between the UAE and India has grown almost 16 per cent year-on-year, touching $84.5 billion
Brash and raw
When I chanced upon Raj Narain, who humbled Indira Gandhi
Lone voice of dissent
“I am keen to invite Parakala [Prabhakar] to Mumbai… What do you think? Do you know him?” A friend asked. No, I don’t know the man. And no, it is not a good idea to invite him, unless you want to invite trouble, I replied.
Modi and the Muslim syndrome
I have long been intrigued by the prime minister’s desire to hug every passing sheikh and sultan and his contrasting contempt for the ordinary Indian Muslim.
Assam Rifles not trained to guard borders; need separate force for Manipur border
Imphal is blanketed in darkness. The sun has set a little too soon in the valley, but N. Biren Singh is yet to call it a day.
SPOTLIGHT ON THE SENTINELS
Manipur government wants the Assam Rifles replaced, but the Union home ministry is focused on upgrading infrastructure and connectivity before deciding who guards the state