Several conclusions, some strongly and others tentatively, can be drawn from the results of the four assembly elections held recently. Of the four, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh went BJP’s way, while Congress wrested Telangana from a regional party. The fifth, Mizoram, is yet to start its vote counting process, and anyway does not matter much in national politics.
1) Southern comfort for Congress
BJP will be over the moon with its performance in the Hindi belt, while Congress will have to be satisfied with a consolation prize in Telangana. It pulled defeat from the jaws of victory in Chhattisgarh, the only state where all punters were betting on a Congress victory. However, the grand old party has something to celebrate, having consolidated its gains in the south. Post these results, BJP now has a clear path to victory in 2024, while Congress has to work hard to retain its leadership of the INDIA alliance.
1) Southern comfort for Congress
BJP will be over the moon with its performance in the Hindi belt, while Congress will have to be satisfied with a consolation prize in Telangana. It pulled defeat from the jaws of victory in Chhattisgarh, the only state where all punters were betting on a Congress victory. However, the grand old party has something to celebrate, having consolidated its gains in the south. Post these results, BJP now has a clear path to victory in 2024, while Congress has to work hard to retain its leadership of the INDIA alliance.