India’s ruling right-wing party set for big win in crucial provincial polls

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) – India’s ruling rightist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to retain the country's most populated and politically crucial province of Uttar Pradesh (UP), according to early result trends released by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

As on Thursday afternoon, the ruling party was leading in 252 assembly seats, out of 403 assembly seats in the province with a population of 204 million. The election authority started counting votes early Thursday.

Along with the UP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party was also leading in Manipur, Goa, and Uttarakhand. In the border state of Punjab dominated by Sikhs, however, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that governs the national capital city of Delhi is heading for a landslide victory.

Its leader Bhagwant Mann, a former standup comedian is all set to become chief minister in the state.

"History being created! BJP will be the only party to form the Govt for 2 consecutive terms in Uttar Pradesh after 36 years," BJP spokeswoman Charu Pragya wrote on Twitter.

Indian news channels showing voting count indicate that the party is winning maximum seats to retain the power. This is the first time over the past 30 years that an incumbent government has won a second term in UP.

Analysts believe that retaining power in the key state ahead of the 2024 general election is perceived as a significant victory for Prime Minister Modi.

Niranjan Sahoo a New Delhi-based commentator said the election results were a huge boost for Modi, who had invested so much in the state elections.

"Uttar Pradesh is BJP's cradle for Hindutva politics and this victory reaffirms the continuation of such strategy of Hindu nationalism and polarization. In terms of national implication, the victory in UP and other states particularly Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur makes BJP the main contender for 2024 national polls," he said.

- Secular Congress struggling

He also said that the win again elevates Modi to an "enviable position of unchallenged leader of the saffron party", but bad news for the main opposition the centrist secular Congress.

"The part is struggling to hold the fort in its traditional bastion like Punjab, Goa, Manipur, and most importantly Uttarakhand despite BJP changing 3 chief ministers in that state in last one year," said Sahoo.

In today's election result, minority Muslim community of 38 million (19.3% of the population), is keeping a close watch on the results.

"I think a majority of Muslims have voted for the Samajwadi party this time. This time, the opposition is very strong as they are getting more seats as compared to the last elections. The Muslims would look forward, their voice can be raised by the opposition more effectively," Tasleem Rehmani, a prominent Muslim leader told Anadolu Agency.

The AAP is sweeping the polls, as per the result trends. According to ECI, the party is leading in 92 seats out of the total of 117 seats.

It is for the first time that the people in the state have given the mandate to a party, outside the traditional parties and prominent leaders in the state are losing elections to the AAP candidates.

Navjot Singh Sidhu, provincial president of the Congress congratulated the AAP for their win in the state.

"The voice of the people is the voice of God …. Humbly accept the mandate of the people of Punjab," he wrote on Twitter.

- AAP win in Punjab

Jagroop Kaur, political analyst and head of the political science department of Punjab-based Punjabi University said that the arrival of the AAP in the state is a clear indication that people were fed up with the traditional parties.

She said that people are facing several issues in the state and they have given chance to a new party, hoping that their problems would be resolved.

"Voters are aware now...this party has got a chance because people hope they would bring change to the state," she said.

She also added that the party win in the state- first outside the national capital city of Delhi would create an impact on politics in the country.

"It would expand further to other states, and if they prove again well in Punjab, it would for sure, they will expand in another state as well," she said.

"AAP's unprecedented sweep in a full-fledged northern state makes them a national entity from a regional/city-based party. From a political start-up in less than 8 years which began in Delhi city, it has come a long way," he said.