Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra key for BJP in LS polls

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra key for BJP in LS polls

New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra, the electorally major states where the BJP had done exceedingly well in the 2014 elections, could hold the key to the party returning to power in the coming elections — depending on its alliances or the rivals. As non-BJP parties are gearing up to forge a “mahagathbandhan” at least in some states, the ruling BJP hopes for a second consecutive win based on its performance, the micro-management of party President Amit Shah and the appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Uttar Pradesh, which sends the largest number of 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha, is the main battle field where the BJP will face an acid test.

With the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party sewing up an alliance keeping the Congress out of it and the Congress preparing to go it alone, the stage seems to set for a multi-corner contest. However, political pundits feel that the SP-BSP alliance can pose a serious challenge for the BJP and may create hurdles in its return to power in 2019.

Bihar: The battlefield of Bihar has turned out to be as interesting as Uttar Pradesh, with new political equations emerging. The opposition, led by RJD, has formed a “mahagathbandhan” with the Congress and other regional parties like RLSP of former Union Minister and the Hindustani Awam Morch of former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi to take on the NDA that is led by Janata Dal-United, the BJP and the Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP.

In the last Lok Sabha polls, Kushwaha was part the the NDA but last year he parted ways. The BJP had won 22 seats, LJP six and RLSP three in 2014 when the JD-U fought separately and could get only two seats. The RJD won four seats and the Congress two. The BJP, JD-U and LJP have already announced a seat-sharing formula with BJP and JD-U to contest 17 seats each, leaving six seats for LJP. In the 2009 Lok Sabha election, the BJP and JD-U contested together and won 32 of the 40 seats while the RJD won four. The Congress got two seats.

In 2019, the caste equations appear to be even for both the NDA and the “mahagathbandhan”. While the upper castes and backward Kurmi and Koeri communities are expected to back the NDA, Yadavs, minorities, dalits and mahadalits are expected to back its rivals. The Most Backward Classes, which account for 24 per cent of the population, are also expected to play a key role. (IANS)

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