After the declaration of the results of the Assembly polls of Maharashtra and Haryana, it's a clear message to the ruling party, that giving prominence to national issues and marginalising local issues will have a negative impact, on voters. This must be taken in the right perspective and the party has to adopt a suitable strategy. The Assembly election results show that Congress can not be erased that easily. It has done well in Haryana, in spite of many disadvantages: no full-time president, many Congressmen left the party in both states just before elections, while top leaders didn’t evince interest in canvassing, but even then both states gave it a new lease of life. the other opposition parties will also welcome this situation, as the results have broken the myth of BJP’s invincibility. The resurgence of Sharad Pawar’s NCP in Maharashtra, in the face of large scale defections after the Lok Sabha election debacle, is a clear indication that Pawar is very much relevant there even to this day. His vilification by BJP as Pakistan‘s supporter didn’t cut ice with the people.

These results also put to rest all talk of ‘one nation one party, ‘and concerns over the possible emergence of ‘unipolar polity’. The inflated claim that the Modi-Shah juggernaut is formidable, has turned out to be untrue. BJP went to elections with all signs of assertiveness, especially the opposition was in tatters-it’s the party, having galaxy of star leaders, superior resources, and our great defense will publicise surgical strikes, invariably one day before the voting, every time, perceived diplomatic success, all came in handy, but even then results show that the party can no longer camouflage the harsh reality of bad economics behind the narrative of national sentiments.

I feel the results could be comparable to recently held elections in Rajasthan, and MP because the mood of the voters looks to be the same. Voters of all these states were clear about their choices. Modi’s campaign was no different from what it had been in the past. He attempted to strike the same chord and raised the same concerns and achievements, mainly Art. 370 everywhere, but voters it seems, we’re sure they are not voting for Modi now. The economic slowdown, job losses, and rural Agricultural distress may have begun to hurt the BJP

There seems to be an undercurrent against local BJP, going by how the opposition has performed better than what Exit polls were willing to grant it. Meanwhile, the opposition will have to work harder to negate the BJP’s advantage in terms of resources and visibility.