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The much anticipated ‘Mission 272’ of the BJP was delivered handsomely with the party surprising not just everybody but even its own estimates. The party bagged a record 281 seats, of which the lion’s share came from Uttar Pradesh. The other ‘swing states’ of Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh have got BJP home safe and secure.
While the ‘Modi wave’ swept away regional parties like Mayawati’s BSP in UP and the JD(U) in Bihar, other regional parties such as TMC in Bengal, BJD in Odisha and AIADMK in Tamil Nadu held their own. The Congress could not open its account in several states including Delhi, Himachal, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttrakhand and Tamil Nadu. At the same time, states where the BJP has made its presence include Assam and Bengal.
Uttar Pradesh | 80
The Modi wave steered ably by strong man Amit Shah has helped the BJP net 71 seats, bagging 42 per cent votes -- a far cry from its 10 seats in 2009. The two seats of Apna Dal would also accrue to NDA. Surprisingly, Mayawati’s Dalit vote has moved to the BJP, leaving her high and dry. In 2009 she had won 20 seats. The Muzaffarnagar riots in western UP has also ensured that Ajit Singh’s RLD came a cropper, with the Jat vote accruing to the BJP. The ruling Samajwadi Party, which has been facing a negative public mood, has been reduced to five seats, a massive fall from its 23 seats in 2009. The Congress, which had done surprisingly well in 2009 with 21 seats, has been able to get just two seats--Amethi and Rae Bareili--till time of going to press.
Bihar | 40
Bihar was the other crucial state which the BJP was banking on, and the Modi wave has delivered bringing in 23 seats. BJP’s gain has spelt decimation for arch rival Nitish Kumar of the JD(U). The latter has managed to get just two seats. Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP benefiting from the Modi factor leads in six seats. The RJD-Congress combine was being touted as Laloo Prasad’s comeback vehicle. However, following his fodder scam conviction last year, the RJD has managed to win only three seats, and five in alliance with the Congress. Nitish Kumar will have to eat humble pie with JD(U) reduced to two seats. It won 20 last time. For Laloo, the losses of wife Rabri Devi and daughter Misa Bharti would be a personal blow, in his vaunted claims of leading a ‘secular forces.”
Maharashtra | 48
This is another state that the BJP has convincingly swept, with 23 seats. And if seen in alliance with the Shiv Sena (18), it amounts to massive gains taking the combined tally to 41. The ruling Congress-NCP combine, which has been in alliance for 15 years, has been decimated with the Congress bagging two seats. It won 17 last time and NCP half of their last time tally of eight. Significantly, Ashok Chavan seems to be a surprise winner from Nanded and prominent losers include Milind Deora, Priya Dutt and Praful Patel. Moreover, fears of Raj Thakre’s eating into the saffron parties share have proven to be unfounded.
Andhra Pradesh | 42
Essentially an electoral test for the two new regions of Seemandhra and Telangana; in the Seemandhra region, Congress in 2009 held 21 of the 25 seats, while in Telangana with 17 seats for the asking, the Congress held 12 in 2009. In 2014, Congress has been decimated to two in the entire state. Jagan’s YSR Congress is making an impressive impact with nine seats and the TDP-BJP alliance has proven fruitful with 16 seats for TDP and three for BJP. It is the TRS which is raking in the seats with massive haul of 11 seats, with chief K Chandrasekhar Rao clearly on top in the new state of Telangana.
Tamil Nadu | 39
‘Amma’ J Jayalalithaa has ensured she reigns supreme with 37 out of the 39 seats, leaving the BJP to open its account with one seat. The DMK and Congress have been wiped out clean.
