Modi-Shah’s BJP now has its eyes on Mamata’s Bengal, Patnaik’s Odisha, KCR’s Telangana and Jagan’s Andhra. While Congress continues to focus on the PM.
Yamini Aiyar & Neelanjan Sircar write in Contemporary South Asia journal on how BJP's electoral performance and Modi's popularity have altered the dynamic of regional party politics in India.
The rise of regional parties and leaders is no longer news. Last week's results have brought in two phenomenally strong single-state leaders, Mamata Banerjee...
If the elections in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry go the way they are headed right now, they could potentially alter our national political equations, and set a much more interesting stage for 2014.
Airshows are thrilling spectacles of aviation skill and engineering marvels. But they carry inherent risks as the crew is pushing the aircraft, and themselves, to perform at the edges of the envelope.
While global corporations setting up GCCs in India continue to express confidence in availability of skilled AI engineers, the panel argued that India’s real challenge lies elsewhere.
Wing Commander Namansh Syal is survived by his wife, their 6-year-old daughter and his mother. Back in his native village, relatives and neighbours wait for his remains for last rites.
It is a brilliant, reasonably priced, and mostly homemade aircraft with a stellar safety record; only two crashes in 24 years since its first flight. But its crash is a moment of introspection.
Another print opinion piece with lazy analysis. Point 1 of the article says that BJP wants to occupy the regional parties space now that it has decimated the Congress. The BJP has not decimated the Congress, the regional parties have done so. In state after state – TN, UP, Bihar, Orissa, WB, Maharashtra, Telengana-AP, Assam and Delhi the regional parties have all arisen after taking over the Congress votes – the core BJP supporters have not shifted loyalties much. Point 2 of the article says that BJP is trying to wrest the support base of the regional parties -this analysis again does not hold water. Regional parties have 2 main base of support – caste support and minority support. The BJP may wean away caste support but minority support will elude it. These minorities who support regional strongmen have 2 options – a. vote for Muslim parties like Owaisi but Owaisi can never hope to win support of anyone else or b. Vote for the main opposition party which will eventually be the Congress. The Congress has enough support of centrist and uncommitted voters all over India to emerge as a real opposition if regional party votes are added to its tally. If minorities also support it, Congress can give a real run to the BJP for its money even with Modi. In the post Modi and post RG era, if the regional parties are not around, I think we may have a real option of a viable 2 party democracy. Regional parties need to go and I think silently the Congress seems to be egging Modi and Shah along. That is why RG spends all his time targeting BJP. It also explains why BJP desperately targets RG, no other opposition leader has his pan-India appeal. If the Congress was so dead, the BJP wouldn’t waste it’s time on RG or trying to woo Congressmen into its fold.
BJP is building castles in sand. Some journalists like the author of this article are unable to see it. No political parties have been wiped out by the BJP, least of all the Congress. They are merely going through a helplessness or inactivity phase. When pitted against the saffron way of sinful thinking, each such party represents “a somewhat just way of thinking”, and such thinking doesn’t die. They are not physical entities that can be destroyed. When the BJP eventually becomes weak, through a few deaths or a few defeats, these parties will rise up again like a sphinx
Is this the best of political analysis from Print? This might surprise you, but this is only natural to happen in a multi-party federal system… like DUHH!! If you’re reading this Coupta, let me have a crack at it… I can do a better job that whatever this was.
And also, the writer’s lack of knowledge about Southern Politics is simply hilarious. How can editors approve of this weak sauce
Congress is virtually a dead corpse . No infusion of oxygen by tube from any ventilator can bring back life in any corpse , Similarly no amount of political gymnastics can make it an gymnast competing for GOLD MEDAL at any coming hustings. Its next destined destination is grave yard or cremation ground of HISTORY. Likewise – nature , political environment abhors vacuum . So the space from which Congress has been ejected by the voters of different states , will have to be claimed by any other political entity . Of all the political outfits available today, BJP seems to have some advantage , that is known to every body. Even it is absolutely important for BJP to increase its sphere of influence to all virgin areas where it has so for not been able to make its headway, as bulk of its seats have come already from the areas from which further increase is not possible .
Finally some good analysis by the reporter. Also they should have focused on Kerala and TN as well. It would be good know the strength of Stalin in TN and left parties in Kerala.
BRILLIANT ANALYSIS. On dot understanding. The TN story could have been more elaborative. Perhaps the writer has little knowledge and hence chose to avoid taking this head-on.
BJP can count on Hindu votes which is now Strong Polarized United and consolidated although Muslims and Christians working to divide Hindu votes on Caste lines.Muslims are more vocal against BJP and Hindus.But Christians are working behind.Many Hindus converts to Islam and Christians are working against BJP..BJP is not strong enough to take them heads on
In this story, It seems Modi, Shaw are 40+their targeted opposition leaders are nearing 70.Cheran
Another print opinion piece with lazy analysis. Point 1 of the article says that BJP wants to occupy the regional parties space now that it has decimated the Congress. The BJP has not decimated the Congress, the regional parties have done so. In state after state – TN, UP, Bihar, Orissa, WB, Maharashtra, Telengana-AP, Assam and Delhi the regional parties have all arisen after taking over the Congress votes – the core BJP supporters have not shifted loyalties much. Point 2 of the article says that BJP is trying to wrest the support base of the regional parties -this analysis again does not hold water. Regional parties have 2 main base of support – caste support and minority support. The BJP may wean away caste support but minority support will elude it. These minorities who support regional strongmen have 2 options – a. vote for Muslim parties like Owaisi but Owaisi can never hope to win support of anyone else or b. Vote for the main opposition party which will eventually be the Congress. The Congress has enough support of centrist and uncommitted voters all over India to emerge as a real opposition if regional party votes are added to its tally. If minorities also support it, Congress can give a real run to the BJP for its money even with Modi. In the post Modi and post RG era, if the regional parties are not around, I think we may have a real option of a viable 2 party democracy. Regional parties need to go and I think silently the Congress seems to be egging Modi and Shah along. That is why RG spends all his time targeting BJP. It also explains why BJP desperately targets RG, no other opposition leader has his pan-India appeal. If the Congress was so dead, the BJP wouldn’t waste it’s time on RG or trying to woo Congressmen into its fold.
I am eager to know BJP’s plans for Kerela. Fed up of Lal Salam and PFi
I am eager to know BJP’s plans for Kerela.
BJP is building castles in sand. Some journalists like the author of this article are unable to see it. No political parties have been wiped out by the BJP, least of all the Congress. They are merely going through a helplessness or inactivity phase. When pitted against the saffron way of sinful thinking, each such party represents “a somewhat just way of thinking”, and such thinking doesn’t die. They are not physical entities that can be destroyed. When the BJP eventually becomes weak, through a few deaths or a few defeats, these parties will rise up again like a sphinx
Phoenix, sir, not sphinx.
Vijayee bhav, dear BJP.
That’s like saying, Vijayee bhava, RAKSHAS!!
Chamche ki jali
Well at least Kerala will not go down without a battle . Tamil Nadu also
Is this the best of political analysis from Print? This might surprise you, but this is only natural to happen in a multi-party federal system… like DUHH!! If you’re reading this Coupta, let me have a crack at it… I can do a better job that whatever this was.
And also, the writer’s lack of knowledge about Southern Politics is simply hilarious. How can editors approve of this weak sauce
Congress is virtually a dead corpse . No infusion of oxygen by tube from any ventilator can bring back life in any corpse , Similarly no amount of political gymnastics can make it an gymnast competing for GOLD MEDAL at any coming hustings. Its next destined destination is grave yard or cremation ground of HISTORY. Likewise – nature , political environment abhors vacuum . So the space from which Congress has been ejected by the voters of different states , will have to be claimed by any other political entity . Of all the political outfits available today, BJP seems to have some advantage , that is known to every body. Even it is absolutely important for BJP to increase its sphere of influence to all virgin areas where it has so for not been able to make its headway, as bulk of its seats have come already from the areas from which further increase is not possible .
When did TDP become anti BJP? By the look of it Chandrababu is dying to get close to NAMO again.
Finally some good analysis by the reporter. Also they should have focused on Kerala and TN as well. It would be good know the strength of Stalin in TN and left parties in Kerala.
Impeccable planning for India’s political future. Kuchh khayaal economy ka bhi rakha jaye toh fifty years in power are guaranteed.
Kaise karenge economy thik? Fake degrees se?
BRILLIANT ANALYSIS. On dot understanding. The TN story could have been more elaborative. Perhaps the writer has little knowledge and hence chose to avoid taking this head-on.
That is not strange in politics. What Congress tried in the past but failed, that now BJP too doing.
Why do you portray it as BJP’s fault if Congress is run by the corrupt and incompetent?
BJP can count on Hindu votes which is now Strong Polarized United and consolidated although Muslims and Christians working to divide Hindu votes on Caste lines.Muslims are more vocal against BJP and Hindus.But Christians are working behind.Many Hindus converts to Islam and Christians are working against BJP..BJP is not strong enough to take them heads on