By-poll election results 2014: Is it the end of Modi wave?

www.mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, August 25, 2014: Assembly by-poll election result of four states Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Karnataka are out. Being first major elections after Narendra Modi-led NDA came to power, it was a litmus test for BJP and the party lost key seat of Bellary in Karnataka while in Bihar the ‘Grand alliance’ of RJD-JD(U) and Congress gave the saffron party a tough fight winning 6 of ten assembly seats that went for by-polls on August 21.

Apart from Bihar, in Punjab Congress and Akali Dal, both won one seat. Aam aadmi Party (AAP) which won four seats in the Lok Sabha elections could not open its account. In Karnataka Congress won the Bellary seat and leading on Chikkodi while BJP candidate and BS Yeddyurappa’s son, BY Raghavendra is leading from Shikaripura. In Madhya Pradesh, BJP bagged two seats and Congress could win one seat in the state.

In Bihar where there was a tough contest between secular alliance and BJP, Modi wave could not create its magic. Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar turned their rivalry into friendship and it benefited them too. RJD-JD(U) with Congress took on BJP which won 31 of the state’s 40 seats in recent general elections and won on six seats.

The team of RJD-JD(U)and Congress managed to consolidate the Muslim-Yadav-Backward Caste votes. Overjoyed with the victory former Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar took on Narendra Modi saying “Modi’s magic talk” has failed.

After the result of assembly by-polls of all four states but most importantly of Bihar, many have raised question that ‘Is it end of Modi wave?’. Assembly by-polls are considered as a semi final before the assembly polls in Maharasthra, Haryana, Jharkhand and Jammu & Kashmir. However, it would be too early to predict that the Modi magic would not benefit BJP more. But one thing is confirmed that it has shown a way not only to Congress but to all anti-BJP parties how to take on BJP in upcoming assembly elections.