The BJP’s only hit among all misses in recent Lok Sabha bypolls came via an ex-Congress leader
THE outcome of the Palghar Lok Sabha bypoll in Maharashtra is a classic case of how no one wins and everybody loses. Defections of senior leaders from the BJP to the Shiv Sena and the Congress to the BJP make it hard to tell if people supported the candidate or the party. With former Congress leader Rajendra Gavit as their candidate, the BJP emerged the winner—its only victory in the recent parliamentary bypolls. The BJP lost Bhandara-Gondia—the seat Nana Patole had vacated when he quit the BJP over farmers’ agitations—to the NCP.
The Palghar seat had been held by the BJP’s Chintaman Vanaga, who died this January. His son Shrinivas joined the Shiv Sena ahead of the bypolls saying the BJP did not treat the family well. This bypoll marked the first major contest the BJP’s coalition partner in the state faced after it announced its decision to go solo in the future. “We only supported a family that has worked for years in this region,” Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said in a television interview. “The BJP had plans to field another candidate…the CM himself said he was in talks with Gavit.”
This story is from the June 18, 2018 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 18, 2018 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
DharmasthalaMantra of Development
Heggade's Path of Development towards Athmanirbharata Traced, How Temples can Transform Life, Economically and Socially
Forking Paths of Sanatana and Dravidian Thought
The evolution from devotional egalitarianism to social justice
Left, Hand Drive
Whether the Congress' Rahul Gandhi or CPI's Annie Raja wins, Wayanad has widened the chasm in the INDIA bloc
Coastal Turbulence
Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada-districts in coastal Karnataka, which witnessed increased instances of polarisation in the last few years-have been the BJP's stronghold
A Return to the Ballot?
Separatist politics may not influence the general elections in Kashmir this time
Miya, Axomia and Tea
The BJP hopes to sweep Assam in the Lok Sabha polls riding on PM Modi and CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's development and Hindutva agenda. The Opposition has constituency-specific strategies
The Stained Floodplains
In the calm foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, there is a storm brewing between the BJP and the TMC. The voters are divided
Minimum Support Life
Politicians visiting Madhya Pradesh are making big promises to the people, but for the Adivasis, it's still about Jal, Jungle, Jameen
Divine Dividend
Arun Govil, who played Lord Ram in the popular television series, Ramayan, flips the conventions of devotion on the campaign trail
Next Gen Bahujan
Nagina Lok Sabha constituency in Bijnor district has emerged as a key battleground for the future of Dalit politics in Uttar Pradesh