HINDI HEARTLAND
BJP's caste strategy put back on table in Uttar Pradesh
Following a loss in the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP is reviewing its caste strategy in the state by promoting leaders from non-Yadav backward castes, EBCs, and SCs. Prominent figures like Keshav Prasad Maurya, Swatantra Dev Singh, and Bhupendra Chaudhary have been key in securing votes from specific caste groups. Despite these efforts, some leaders like Sanjeev Balyan faced defeats, while alliances with parties like RLD showed mixed results in the recent polls.
Election Results 2024: Key takeaways from the Lok Sabha polls
As the results have trickled in for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, they revealed that the NDA has a lead on 295 seats while the INDIA opposition bloc gains on 235. The BJP leads with 241 seats, relying heavily on its NDA partners for a majority. Despite setbacks, BJP's vote share improves slightly. Regional parties make significant gains in various states, and the Congress shows a strong resurgence, largely attributed to Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Lok Sabha polls: Heartache for BJP in heartland
UP proved to be a Waterloo for BJP, with the party getting a major setback in the state. In initial party reports, there was high anti-incumbency against several sitting MPs in UP and it was expected that BJP would make several changes. The party did make some changes but at large, it relied on sitting MPs who were winning for two consecutive terms. With PM Modi’s guarantee and extensive campaign, BJP believed that it would overcome the anti-incumbency against sitting candidates. However, that didn’t materialise, with the party incurring heavy losses.
Can Modi sculpt yet another image of himself, this time that of a consensual one?
The 2024 verdict is a significant upset for BJP, failing to secure a clear majority. This may lead to a more humble version of Narendra Modi. BJP's performance in UP was notably disappointing.
Rajnath Singh, a formidable BJP leader from Uttar Pradesh with grassroots connect
Rajnath Singh, a prominent leader from Uttar Pradesh, is known for his grassroots connect and moderate image. He has expanded BJP's network in the Hindi heartland and is set to retain the prestigious Lucknow Lok Sabha seat with a significant lead over his rival from Samajwadi Party.
Quest for 'Hindi, Hindutva, Hindustan' dominance dangerous threat to plural consciousness: Tharoor
In an interview with PTI, he also said the quest for dominance of "Hindi, Hindutva, Hindustan" is indeed the most dangerous threat to the foundations of "our plural consciousness". The Congress leader, however, stressed that Indian secularism is intertwined in the DNA of the country's culture and it will not disappear so easily.
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Dayanidhi Maran's remark on Bihar workers surfaces again, Tejashwi Yadav condemns comment
A video clip of a derogatory remark made by DMK Lok Sabha MP Dayanidhi Maran on workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar has sparked a war of words between the BJP and Tamil Nadu's ruling Dravidian party. The DMK has slammed the BJP for spreading 'falsehood', asserting that Maran only stressed on learning the English language.
What sealed BJP's victory in the Hindi heartland
BJP’s victories were secured mainly due to its high-octane campaign. The Congress effort, in contrast, was marked by complacency and disarray. Unlike BJP that, like ‘always’, calibrated its efforts and escalated the campaign’s scale as deadline neared, its principal adversary, in what were essentially two horse races, turned smug after the initial lead it appeared to have, at least in MP and Chhattisgarh. Its promise to conduct a caste-based census was wrongly assessed as an ‘unplayable ball’.
Lessons for Congress from Hindi heartland losses
Unless Congress does something dramatic within the next few months to change that situation, it is difficult to see BJP not maintaining its dominance in the region. Since 2014, BJP has won 90% of the seats where Congress was the main competitor. Building a strong alliance and framing a strong message will not alter the fact that Congress will have to contest on its own in these seats.
Assembly poll results show 'Modi magic' remains strong in Hindi heartland
A big win in Karnataka had fuelled the Congress' hopes that it had finally found a counter-punch powered by local leadership and welfare guarantees to put the BJP on the defensive but Sunday's verdict makes it clear that the 'Modi magic' remains strong and can turn the tide in the states where it enjoys strong organisational presence.
Sunil Kanugolu -- the poll strategist behind Congress' win in Telangana
This time, Kanugolu along with PCC chief A Revanth Reddy formed a formidable pair to chalk out the Congress' strategy to pull down the K Chandrashekhar Rao-led BRS government that was eying a third term in the southern state. The Congress was headed for victory in Telangana while it was staring at crushing defeats in the Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.
'Red diary', 'Mahadev betting app', 'paper leaks' results in Congress defeat in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has ruined Congress prospects in the assembly elections in the Hindi heartland, with the Congress losing 61 out of 65 seats in the three Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan. The Congress had pushed its campaign around its 11 guarantees, including a host of freebies, but voters found nothing substantive in these.
How Saffron party won the Hindi heartland: Here is what worked for BJP and didn't for Congress
The Congress party has suffered a major setback in the Hindi Heartland, losing the mandate in Madhya Pradesh to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the fourth consecutive assembly election. Incumbent Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan and the BJP have emerged victorious, heading towards a clean sweep in the state. The Congress also faces the possibility of losing in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.
Big thumbs up for PM Modi before 2024 from the heartland, Consolation for Congress in Telangana
The three state win for the BJP is a big boost for the party ahead of 2024 assembly elections. In 2018, the party lost all three states. This was an election where the BJP avoided putting local leaders ahead and the campaign was entirely fought on PM Modi.
Inflation ties heartland’s wedding consumption in knots
Wedding celebrations in rural and semi-urban areas of India are being affected by persistent inflation. The rising prices of essential items are causing a decline in demand for traditional wedding items like gold jewellery and household appliances. The inflationary pressures are putting a strain on the budgets of households, particularly those with lower to mid-level incomes. Sales of jewellery, household appliances remain flat during wedding season even as people turn to gifting cash in rural, semi-urban markets.
Wedding season: No significant pick-up in demand for gold jewellery, household and kitchen appliances in semi-urban & rural markets
This is driven by the fact that daily household inflation is yet to sober down completely impacting consumption amongst masses or people with low-to-mid income levels. Overall consumption in small towns and rural areas is impacted for 6-8 quarters now due to inflation though the rich in these markets are buying, that too premium products. Cash is replacing jewellery and electronic products as wedding gift.
Sunny Deol's 'Gadar 2' becomes third highest-grossing Hindi film, surpasses 'KGF2'
Sunny Deol's 'Gadar 2' continues to achieve new heights as the movie has now become the third highest-grossing Hindi film. 'Gadar 2' has already entered the 400 crore club and Sunny Deol expressed his gratitude by recording a video while on a flight.
Hindi heartland states set to buzz with investor summits
For the first time, Bihar, which is known for labour migration, is preparing for an investor summit later this year. The state's industries minister, Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, recently organised an investor's meet in Delhi, where several industry houses, including Adani Group, HUL, Lulu Group and ITC, participated. Hussain said he will hold a similar roadshow in Mumbai and attend two invitations from industry chambers in Surat and Kolkata.
Women centric issues & candidates: Parties in UP try to connect with emerging vote bank
Struggling long to regain lost ground in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress is experimenting with evolving women as its vote bank and has taken the lead by announcing that it will give 40 per cent tickets to them.
BJP’s state units in the Hindi heartland are gearing up to organise kisan sammelans
In Madhya Pradesh, seven large-scale kisan sammelans will be organised in each of the seven regions of the state on Tuesday and Wednesday. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will address four such meetings, starting with one in Bhopal on Tuesday.
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