Lessons learned from failure

On Sunday, it appeared for the first time that Modi was not electorally all powerful as he failed to take the BJP to a clear majority in Maharashtra. Despite emerging as the largest party and near certain to head a government in the state for the first time, the verdict from the party will temper the aggression of Modi loyalists within the BJP. Predictably, while drum beaters have attributed the spectacular victory in Haryana to "nothing but Modi-wave", the reason for the shortfall in Maharashtra has been attributed to the absence of the BJP organisational network in large parts of the state. That the same argument holds true in Haryana has been conveniently ignored.

Sunday's verdict demonstrates that there are still large parts of India where local issues and caste factor still plays an important role. India can't be considered to have returned to the phase of 'single elections' but continues to remain an 'aggregate' of hundreds (and thousands) of polls. In such a situation, one man cannot expect that his magic wand will sway voters.

Given his personality and his dominance in government, no one will walk up to Modi and tell him that he can cannot take credit only for success but must also accept his share of responsibility when things do not go the BJP's way completely. If there is any takeaway for Modi from this round, it is a simple fact: not everything can be done by one man. He has to devolve more - both in organisation and in government.

BJP president Amit Shah may credit “Modi wave or tsunami” for the party’s performance in Maharashtra, but out of the 27 Assembly constituencies where Prime Minister Narendra Modi held rallies in the state, the party and its alliance partners could win in only 10.

At every rally that Modi held, “lakhs of people” had reportedly turned out to hear him. But it seems all those “lakhs” did not translate into votes for the party. In fact, in five constituencies, BJP candidates finished third. The BJP strategists had expected that Modi’s rallies will not only help the candidate of that particular constituency but will also boost party’s prospect in nearby constituencies. However, the poll results have shown that the strategy did not pay off.

“Except for Nagpur and Nashik, where Modi held rallies and BJP won the two seats and also other neighbouring constituencies, in the other 17 constituencies, the Modi effect was lacking,” said Mahadev Sashrabuddhe, a poll analyst.

confuzzled dude wrote:

BJP president Amit Shah may credit “Modi wave or tsunami” for the party’s performance in Maharashtra, but out of the 27 Assembly constituencies where Prime Minister Narendra Modi held rallies in the state, the party and its alliance partners could win in only 10.

At every rally that Modi held, “lakhs of people” had reportedly turned out to hear him. But it seems all those “lakhs” did not translate into votes for the party. In fact, in five constituencies, BJP candidates finished third. The BJP strategists had expected that Modi’s rallies will not only help the candidate of that particular constituency but will also boost party’s prospect in nearby constituencies. However, the poll results have shown that the strategy did not pay off.

“Except for Nagpur and Nashik, where Modi held rallies and BJP won the two seats and also other neighbouring constituencies, in the other 17 constituencies, the Modi effect was lacking,” said Mahadev Sashrabuddhe, a poll analyst.

http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/of-27-seats-where-modi-held-rallies-bjp-lost-in-17/