In recent provincial elections held in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faced setbacks as votes were counted, with the BJP trailing in both states. These elections were the first test of Modi’s popularity since he returned as prime minister for a third consecutive term earlier this year. While the results are not expected to impact the Modi government’s ability to make federal policies, they are seen as setbacks for the BJP ahead of upcoming elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
Exit polls had predicted a win for the main opposition Congress party in Haryana, with Congress leading in 57 seats compared to BJP’s 22. In Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress-NC alliance was ahead in 44 seats, while BJP led in 29 seats. These results mark a shift in the political landscape of these regions, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, which recently became federally administered territories following a split in 2019.
The upcoming elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand are crucial for the BJP, which currently rules Maharashtra in a coalition government and faces an opposition alliance in power in Jharkhand. These elections, expected to be held in November, will be closely watched as they will further indicate the political mood in the country and the BJP’s standing in key Indian states.
A victory for Congress in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir would be a significant boost for its leader, Rahul Gandhi, who has faced criticism for the party’s decline since Modi came to power in 2014. Gandhi led the opposition alliance that prevented Modi from securing an outright majority in the parliamentary elections earlier this year and currently serves as the leader of the opposition in the lower house of parliament.
The results of these provincial elections reflect a changing political landscape in India, with regional parties gaining ground in key states and challenging the dominance of national parties like the BJP. As the country gears up for more state elections in the coming months, the outcome of these key battles will shape the political future of India and the power dynamics between the ruling BJP and the opposition parties.
