This is loss of BJP and so a win for opponents by default. Yes, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lost the 2019 assembly elections in Jharkhand. The key reason why Narendra Modi rose to power in 2014, can once again be seen at play in Jharkhand. And, wise people in BJP should not feel surprised.
Seeds of this public decision lies in the womb of Anna Hazare andolan (movement). It’s time to recall that great day and then attempt to understand the apparent contradictions between greater second victory of Modi in May 2019, followed by three state election losses within a short time. And the three state election losses before May 2019, in late 2018.
We need to assess public decisions more precisely, rather than use meaningless terms like anti-incumbency etc. In any election there is bound to be some winner that does not necessarily mean public likes them. What needs to be understood after election results is, whether the winner won public confidence, or the loser lost public confidence. These are two different reasons in any elections, more pertinent now in the internet era, where public has greater clarity on finer points through endless information flow. Falsehoods cannot remain buried for too long anymore by any politician in power, from any political party. If corrupt from a party still win, it’s because the one in power became corrupt too, and has lost public confidence.
BJP lost Jharkhand assembly elections to the public, BJP’s opponents did not win. Responsibility squarely lies with the BJP. Ironically, it’s the people of Jharkhand who will ultimately be the biggest losers, as they will now have to bear the corrupt ones they had rejected last time.
In order to find the reason, let’s look back to the day of Anna Andolan (movement). This movement awakened the nation’s spirit from within to shed off dishonesty from governance. Experiencing deep rooted corruption in daily lives, witnessing political class blatantly misusing power for personal and family benefits nation was absolutely fed up. It was in this background that nation lost hopes from Congress and other family driven parties and latched on to new faces who gave them hope. This was the reason Arvind Kejariwal won people’s heart in Delhi at that time, and Narendra Modi of the nation as whole! Modi has proven himself so convincingly that nation gave him a bigger mandate for a second time, in May 2019.
Yet the problem remains with BJP as a political party. Why are they not able to find clean and courageous leaders like Narendra Modi in every state, in every district, in every town and village? This is the real question. After all, Modi cannot be everywhere and Modi cannot live forever. Is there a deliberate effort by the not-so-clean politicians in BJP to prevent old or fresh blood with conviction for absolute integrity in personal and public life?
To be fair to the BJP, they did try a new face in Maharashtra and the state gave a strong second mandate to them. It was a different matter that their partner cheated on them. Actually, it was clear to all ground level BJP workers that had BJP chosen to fight alone, without Shiv Sena, public would have given them a definite majority. How the BJP leadership lacked to grasp this changing reality in Maharashtra is beyond the comprehension of common man.
So, the reason for BJP’s loss in state elections is that the not-so-clean politicians are not being replaced by a new breed of high integrity individuals. Jharkhand elections is just another reminder. Why else public elected Saryu Roy as an independent candidate by defeating the sitting Chief Minister of Jharkhand Raghubar Das?
If BJP is unable to see this simple truth and fails to undertake complete overhaul from within, the nation would find itself in a deeper ditch which will be the second gravest tragedy after losing faith in corrupt Congress.