Maharashtra reversal will definitely rankle the BJP. Another big state has gone out of its fold. In 2017, the Congress was limited to just Karnataka, Punjab and Mizoram. Today, it is in power in Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. It is the chief opposition in Assam, Arunachal, Telangana, Karnataka, Haryana, Himachal, Uttaranchal and Gujarat.
But look at BJP! In 2017 December, it was almost lording over the entire north, east and western India. Only Punjab, Bengal, South India, Odisha, Delhi and Bengal were out of its fold. It literally held sway over 71 per cent of the land in the country. It was in power in 21 states either on its own or in association with NDA partners. Today, it covers only 40 per cent of the area and rules in just 15 states. Seven of these states are smaller states. Except Assam and Arunachal, in all other North Eastern states, it is a junior partner in the Government, while in Haryana, it shares power with Dushyant Choutala's JJP. In Bihar it is the junior partner for Nitish Kumar's JDU and in Jharkhand, it shares power with AJSU. Since 2017, TDP, Shiv Sena, PDP and AJSU have left the NDA alliance.
The BJP is facing uphill task in poll-bound Jharkhand. Next year, there would be elections in Delhi and Bihar. In both the states, there are powerful regional leaders who can challenge the BJP. Will the BJP's area of influence further shrink? How will this impact the overall functioning, credibility and decisiveness of the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre? Let's wait and see how things unfold.
But look at BJP! In 2017 December, it was almost lording over the entire north, east and western India. Only Punjab, Bengal, South India, Odisha, Delhi and Bengal were out of its fold. It literally held sway over 71 per cent of the land in the country. It was in power in 21 states either on its own or in association with NDA partners. Today, it covers only 40 per cent of the area and rules in just 15 states. Seven of these states are smaller states. Except Assam and Arunachal, in all other North Eastern states, it is a junior partner in the Government, while in Haryana, it shares power with Dushyant Choutala's JJP. In Bihar it is the junior partner for Nitish Kumar's JDU and in Jharkhand, it shares power with AJSU. Since 2017, TDP, Shiv Sena, PDP and AJSU have left the NDA alliance.
The BJP is facing uphill task in poll-bound Jharkhand. Next year, there would be elections in Delhi and Bihar. In both the states, there are powerful regional leaders who can challenge the BJP. Will the BJP's area of influence further shrink? How will this impact the overall functioning, credibility and decisiveness of the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre? Let's wait and see how things unfold.