PM Modi confident of BJP sweeping Bihar and UP, banks on ‘sympathy’ in Maharashtra

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an exclusive interview with Network18 Group’s Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, provided his insights on the upcoming 2024 elections, focusing particularly on the pivotal states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh (UP), and Maharashtra. Exuding confidence, PM Modi hinted at BJP sweeping Bihar and UP, while remaining optimistic about repeating the 2019 success in Maharashtra.

The significance of these three states cannot be overstated. Bihar, with its 40 Parliamentary Constituencies, Uttar Pradesh (UP) with 80, and Maharashtra with 48, collectively account for 168 Parliamentary Constituencies. These states hold considerable sway in determining the outcome of national elections, given their large share of seats in the Lok Sabha.

Addressing political turbulence in Maharashtra

Prime Minister Modi acknowledged the challenges posed by recent rifts within Maharashtra’s coalition government.

“It’s true that the state has been witnessing coalition governments for a considerable period now. Devendra Fadnavis was the first person after a long time to serve the entire term. The government then was clean and spotless, working for the welfare of the people.”

He emphasised the betrayal by former allies, portraying BJP as the beacon of stability in the face of internal discord.

In the aftermath of the 2019 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, tensions escalated between the BJP and Shiv Sena over power-sharing arrangements. Despite alleged agreements, dissensions emerged, leading to the dissolution of the alliance.

Maharashtra: Turn of events:

On June 29, 2022, Uddhav Thackeray announced his resignation from both his post of chief minister and as a member of the Legislative Council (MLC) via a live social media address. The following day, Eknath Shinde assumed the role of CM, with Devendra Fadnavis appointed as deputy chief minister on June 30.

PM Modi asserted, “Now, there should be sympathy towards us. Those who fought elections alongside us, those who sought votes from the people of Maharashtra alongside us, developed an ego due to their personal ambition of becoming the chief minister. Because of their ego and ambition, you (Uddhav Thackeray) betrayed this partnership that dated back to the days of Balasaheb Thackeray. People are angry about it, and there is sympathy for BJP because of this.”

Dynasty politics

PM Modi denounced the prevalence of dynasty politics, drawing parallels between internal rifts within Shiv Sena and NCP and the broader narrative of misplaced priorities and personal agendas.

He emphasised, “These are your family disputes, resolve them within your home. Why are you ruining the state of Maharashtra over this?”

In July 2023, Ajit Pawar and his supporters left the NCP to join the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP government. This led to a split in the NCP, with Ajit claiming party presidency. Notably, he criticised Sharad Pawar‘s leadership decisions, including the alliance with the Shiv Sena over the BJP in 2019.

On February 7, 2024, the Election Commission awarded Ajit’s faction the NCP name and symbol, while Sharad’s faction became the Nationalist Congress Party (SharadChandra Pawar).

Further, PM Modi underscored BJP’s commitment to Maharashtra’s progress, dismissing concerns over seat distribution within the grand alliance formed by BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP.

Bihar: The BJP-JD(U) partnership

Turning his focus to Bihar, PM Modi highlighted the enduring partnership between BJP and JD(U), stressing their shared vision for governance and development. Expressing gratitude for overwhelming public support, he confidently predicted a sweeping victory for the alliance in the upcoming elections.

PM Modi stated, “Earlier, we used to lose one odd seat in Bihar, but this time maybe we will not lose even one.”

When asked if he is confident of scoring 40 out of 40 seats, Modi said, “We will not lose even one.”

In the 2019 elections, the BJP-led NDA (comprising BJP, JD(U), and LJP) clinched victory in Bihar, securing 39 out of 40 Lok Sabha seats, while the Opposition UPA (consisting of Congress and RJD) managed to secure only one seat.

Recent developments 

On August 9, 2022, Nitish Kumar announced the termination of JD(U)’s alliance with the BJP in the Bihar Legislative Assembly. He also unveiled a new coalition government in Bihar, dubbed ‘Mahagathgandhan 2.0,’ comprising nine parties, including the RJD and the INC.

However, on January 28, 2024, Nitish Kumar resigned from the Mahagathbandhan alliance, rekindling ties with the BJP to form a fresh government.

Kumar’s departure from the coalition with Lalu Prasad Yadav‘s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) marked a significant shift. Previously, he had formed the government in Bihar in alliance with the RJD and other Left parties in 2022.

Nitish Kumar also played a pivotal role in the Opposition’s I.N.D.I.A. bloc. Explaining his resignation and dissolution of the Bihar Assembly, Kumar cited discord within the coalition, signing off with, “Not everything was alright. I was hurt. I left the I.N.D.I.A. bloc.”

Interestingly, previously on July 26, 2017, Nitish Kumar resigned as the chief minister of Bihar, leading to the dissolution of the Mahagathbandhan government in the state. However, the very next day, on July 27, 2017, he was sworn in again as chief minister, this time with the support of the BJP.

Following this, on July 28, 2017, the new NDA government won a vote of confidence in the Bihar Assembly, garnering 131 votes in favour, 108 against, with four legislators abstaining.

Uttar Pradesh: Political landscape 

In the upcoming elections, the BJP is set to dominate the NDA, vying for the majority of seats, while the Congress plans to contest in 17 constituencies. The rest of the field will be shared among the Samajwadi Party, led by Akhilesh Yadav, and other members of the Opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc.

Out of Uttar Pradesh’s 80 Lok Sabha constituencies, 63 are open to candidates from any background, while the remaining 17 are reserved for candidates from Scheduled Caste (SC) communities.

Historical context

In the previous general elections, out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP secured 62 seats, with its ally Apna Dal winning two. The Congress could only manage one seat, retained by Sonia Gandhi in Raebareli.

The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party formed an alliance, supported by the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), but their performance was lacklustre, with Mayawati’s BSP securing 10 seats, SP five, and RLD none.

The political arena of Uttar Pradesh is fiercely contested by major players like BJP, Congress, BSP, and SP, alongside other players like the RLD and Communist Party of India (CPI).

Discussing the electoral landscape in Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi denounced the Opposition’s reliance on dynasty politics, asserting BJP’s commitment to meritocracy and inclusive governance.

Modi downplayed the significance of alliances formed by rival parties, expressing unwavering confidence in BJP’s ability to secure a decisive mandate in the state.

“They are forced to field family members. It is their compulsion. That’s their main character. They don’t have anything else. To fight for family members and to make family members fight in elections: That’s the game.”

PM Modi remarked, “Big leaders are not ready to fight the elections… But we are working responsibly, taking everyone along and performing our duties.”

“Furthermore, haven’t they joined forces before? They have united on numerous occasions in the past. However, the people of Uttar Pradesh understand what is best for them. I mentioned in Parliament that the current situation in Uttar Pradesh and the country at large is such that prominent leaders are opting out of the Lok Sabha race and attempting to secure a Rajya Sabha seat instead. That’s the reality. Major leaders are reluctant to contest elections. Nevertheless, we are diligently fulfilling our responsibilities, ensuring inclusivity, and I believe there will be nothing left of them this time around. Absolutely nothing.”

When asked about the BJP’s expectations for the elections, PM Modi projected a significant increase in both votes and seats for the party in Maharashtra, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.

Also read: PM Modi’s next target is zero electricity bill and wants solar panels in every household

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow