Podcast | Key Takeaways from the 2018 Assembly Elections

Raghav Bahl explains the key takeaways from the elections in Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Rajasthan, MP, and Mizoram.

(Photo: The Quint)

1. Rahul Gandhi is the Biggest Winner of the Day

People have always talked about how Rahul Gandhi has kept losing elections. But he displayed the tenacity to stand, take adversity, and go ahead. The process that started with Gujarat has culminated with these elections.

2. The BJP & Congress MLA Bases Are More Balanced

After 2014 and the large number of victories the BJP won, it amassed a much larger MLA base. After the victory in Punjab, this has become more balanced, with the Congress getting approximately 165 new MLAs.

3. Congress Moving Towards ‘Liberal Hinduism’

The Congress has moved more towards a ‘liberal Hinduism’ approach, which many experts have called ‘soft Hindutva’.

4. Cooperation Between the Old Guard and the Young Guard

When the Congress changed its leadership, a clash between the “old guard” and the “young guard” was expected by many. But all the three elections in which Congress has done really well is a team work of the “old guard” and the “young guard.”

So it needs to be remarked that both – the older faction and the younger faction – have worked pretty well.

5. Full Credit to KCR

KCR’s decisive victory in Telangana comes on the back of his schemes for providing income to farmers. KCR launched very innovative schemes for direct income transfer to farmers and this was instrumental in his sweeping victory in the state. This goes to show that the only way to alleviate a lot of farm distress is through direct income transfers.

6. First Election Loss for Modi-Shah Duo

Ever since his first election, Narendra Modi hasn’t lost a single election. This is the first loss for the Modi-Amit Shah duo, and what they learn from this loss will shape the BJP’s future.