Why Lok Sabha polls won't be a free run for BJP

Now, today in Lucknow the declaration of SP-BSP Gatbandhan is in tune to the changing circumstances of Indian politics where electoral strategies has taken over ideologies in terms of realpolitik, how the BJP performs in the 2019 elections will depend on the way the state of Uttar Pradesh votes. The last time, the NDA won 73 of UP’s 80 seats. (PTI)

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: The recent assembly election results have indicated that 2019 Lok Sabha election is open. It will be no more a free run for BJP. The non-Congress and non-BJP front will have an equal chance to do better in the respective areas of their dominance. More importantly, the 2019 election will be a contest of electoral strategies than ideologies. Now, today in Lucknow the declaration of SP-BSP Gatbandhan is in tune to the changing circumstances of Indian politics where electoral strategies has taken over ideologies in terms of realpolitik, how the BJP performs in the 2019 elections will depend on the way the state of Uttar Pradesh votes. The last time, the NDA won 73 of UP’s 80 seats. Today with the announcement of SP -BSP Gatbandhan with the scope of RLD still joining (the 2 seats plus 1 seat from SP quota still is an offer for RLD) this alliance looks formidable enough to stop the juggernaut of BJP in UP on the basis of last votes polled in 2017 assembly polls. There was reflection of it's strength in the results of Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana Lok Sabha polls held last year. With the announcement of 10% General category quota BJP did made some effort to stop the erosion of upper caste votes which otherwise would have gone to Congress in UP. Now Congress without major shift in upper caste votes may not garner much of Muslim votes too thus it looks majority Muslim votes will go to Gatbandhan which a fortnight looked as if being equally split where Congress getting handsome share. So,BJP might have unknowingly helped SP-BSP alliance by the move which it considered a 'masterstroke' for itself, further this made decision process easy for Mayawati and Akhilesh to not include Congress  in Gatbandhan as made specific in Mayawati's address to the press that main reason to exclude Congress is that it does not transfer it's votes(upper caste). The author is Director of Centre for Objective Research and Development(CORD), Lucknow Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs and views expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this website are personal and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs and views of ABP News Network Pvt Ltd.