Assembly
Polls in 9 states in 2023
No Cake walk
for BJP
The ‘Modi magic’ notwithstanding, the BJP leadership is finding it difficult to implement its “Gujarat Model” in some of the poll bound states in 2023. Of the nine states set to go to polls this year, the BJP is in power in Tripura, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh while in Nagaland and Mizoram, the ruling NDPP and MNF are part of the NDA. In Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conard Sangma's NPP walked out of the NDA leaving the BJP in a lurch.
The BJP is already facing a serious challenge in Tripura where
more than half a dozen MLAs have quit and a key regional ally broke ties with
the BJP.
In
Karnataka, the BJP leadership is trying hard to placate B S Yediyurappa (BSY) and
inducted him in the parliamentary board. But BSY is insisting on the inclusion of his
MLA son in the Bommai ministry. The Cabinet expansion will now take place but
the last word on inclusion of BSY's son is yet to be written.
The BJP’s
next big worry is Madhya Pradesh where it has been receiving adverse ground
reports and toying with the idea of implementing “Gujarat Model”. The Assembly
polls are due in MP in November-December this year and the leadership is keen
to replace Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The BJP replaced the CM Vijay
Rupani a year ahead of the polls along with his entire team with a new set of faces
amidst reports of anti-incumbency. The experiment proved to be a success as the
party won a record number of seats.
If the
change of guards is to take place in Madhya Pradesh, the Cabinet reshuffle at
the Centre will be timed accordingly.
The BJP also
has to put its house in order in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh where Congress is
in power.
