Poll test: BJP fails to score

Hoping to benefit from the campaign it had waged against the UPA over corruption,the BJP had set a modest target of opening accounts in Kerala,Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

Hoping to benefit from the campaign it had waged against the UPA over corruption,the BJP had set a modest target of opening accounts in Kerala,Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and an ambitious goal of playing a key role in government formation in Assam. The results not just belied its hopes but came as a reality check for the party which was euphoric after Bihar elections and had even set sights on an NDA revival following Lefts around which a third front was taking shape decline.

The poor show in elections it suffered badly in Assam while lotus did not fare too well in southern states and Bengal has shattered its confidence and is forced it to introspect. It admitted Assam results were a setback and matter of serious concern. The party was hoping to win 15-18 seats in Assam,up from six last time. It was banking on AGP cornering 35-odd seats and hoped to stitch a post-poll alliance with it and have a shot at power.

That the BJP viewed the elections seriously and thought it had a realistic chance of putting up a good show in all states became clear when party chief Nitin Gadkari asked top leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj to directly handle the campaign. The two eastern states and the three southern states were divided between Jaitley and Swaraj,respectively. Moreover,BJPs entire top leadership campaigned extensively with Gadkari himself devoting full-time attention.

What went wrong in Assam? Party leaders held divergent views. In initial analysis,Jaitley said the lack of Opposition unity resulting in the absence of a credible alternative was the key factor. He said the BJP tried its level best and made an honest attempt to ally with the AGP. With the issue of corruption failing to make an impact barring perhaps Tamil Nadu the BJP now says the elections and its outcome were state-specific.

Nobody could foresee it coming. It never came in our discussions, a senior leader admitted when asked about Assam. The party could win only three seats. The leader saw a Hindu consolidation in favour of the ruling Congress to negate the Muslim surge in favour of AUDF. But rumblings have already begun in the BJP. A section of the party is arguing that the high command overlooked the views of the state unit both on candidate selection and strategy.