Apropos the report, "BJP and its allies win 7 out of 12 Assembly seats in by-polls" (February 17), after the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) successive defeats in the Delhi and Bihar Assembly polls, many thought the party's popularity was waning. Modi magic, too, appeared to have little effect on voters and Amit Shah's role as party president was called into question.
In such circumstances, the satisfactory result for the BJP in the by-polls offers some solace to the party as it gears up for Assembly elections in five states.
Inefficient governance and corruption are rampant in Uttar Pradesh where the Samajwadi Party is in power. That the Akhilesh Yadav government in the state would be deposed is imminent. The Congress' disappointing performance in Karnataka is a reflection of its attitude in Parliament where it has been stalling the passage of important Bills. But the BJP's victory in the Muzaffarnagar constituency seems to vindicate its communal line in UP. It would be a matter of grave concern if the BJP applied a similar strategy in the coming Assembly elections even as the cauldron of communalism boils over in the country.
Another inference from the by-poll results is that in the Birganj seat in Tripura, the BJP came second, nudging out the Congress. The Congress must contemplate its course of action in the Budget session to erase its current "anti-development" image.
Buddhadev Nandi Bishnupur
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