REDRAWING THE POLITICAL MAP
Elections in March 1998
“With the Congress party withdrawing support from the Gujral government in November 1997, President K.R. Narayanan had only one option before him: dissolve the Lok Sabha and call for fresh elections, which were subsequently announced for February-March 1998. The BJP sought a mandate from the people with a simple slogan, which stood out for its positive content and direct appeal: Vote for a ’stable government’ under an ‘able Prime Minister’. Our manifesto for the 1998 Lok Sabha elections stated: ‘In Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the people see a leader who combines ability with integrity, charisma with character and experience with universal acceptability. He is not a person who claims leadership by birth in, or relationship with, any dynasty. He is a leader by virtue of his long and dedicated service to the nation and its people in and out of Parliament.’ As soon as I hit the campaign trail, I realised that this election would be a watershed in the history of the Indian Republic. I could see tremendous enthusiasm for the BJP in almost all parts of the country, including states such as Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, where we had never won a Lok Sabha seat. Atalji’s charisma was palpable among all sections of society. The people were eager to elect, for the first time ever, a completely non-Congress government under a non-Congress leader. It did not take much to predict which party would emerge as the frontrunner to form the government. The pollsters’ task, therefore, was limited to projecting the BJP’s tally. The actual results, when they started pouring in, showed that the BJP had literally redrawn the political map of India, having significantly improved its 1996 performance (161 seats) by winning 182 out of the 384 seats that it contested. In contrast, the Congress, contesting from a much greater number of seats, 462, managed to win only 141-as against 140 that it had won in 1996. The strength of the United Front too came down from 183 to 86. A closer look at the results revealed many notable advances for the BJP, and sharp reverses for the Congress. Firstly, this was an election in which Sonia Gandhi campaigned extensively for her party. Secondly, the Congress’ vote share came down to 25.72 per cent-a fall of 14 per cent since 1989, the last time it formed the government at the Centre. The BJP’s vote share, 25.38 per cent, almost equalled that of the Congress but, no less important, it had risen by 14 per cent since 1989. Thirdly, the BJP could boast of representatives in the Lok Sabha from more states and union territories than the Congress.
Both Atalji and I won comfortably from our traditional constituencies of Lucknow and Gandhinagar respectively. What was particularly gratifying to me was that the BJP had succeeded in expanding its social and geographical base. For the first time since 1952, the BJP had representation from Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Assam. In UP, our success was staggering: we won fifty-seven out of eighty-five seats. Another interesting feature was that in the new Parliament, the BJP had the highest number of women MPs, (sixteen, as against ten belonging to the Congress), as well as the largest number of MPs belonging to the Scheduled Castes (twenty-four) and Scheduled Tribes (fourteen). In short, the goal of becoming an alternative to the Congress, which we had set for ourselves at the founding conference of the BJP in 1980, had finally been realised in 1998″.
Comments
13 Responses to “REDRAWING THE POLITICAL MAP”
BJP must make efforts to grow in states like Andhra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Kerala if it wishes to comfortably form a government in the centre. By ignoring these states it becomes difficult for BJP to emerge stronger. Also the decline in UP does not help either.
It is a pity that the electorate have a worthy option in BJP, but they refuse to accept it in many parts of the country. In the long run the country suffers.
I wish the BJP all the success for the results of LS elections.
After reading this writeup from sri Advaniji I do not hesitate to conclude that our Party has been suffering from leadership crisis in U.P.
Though We have a fine national president in Mr Rajnath Singh who has put the best efforts in these elections,one may not expect no where closer to 58 seats out of 85 in 1998 in U.P.What I mean is that The paty has found it difficult to
project any leader who can challange the ugly cast politics adopted by Mr Mulayam singh Yadav
and Ms Mayavati.The dependance on allies may be reduced only if the party has a strong comeback in Uttar Pradesh and for that party has to devlop some leaders like Shivraj singh chauhan or Raman singh or narendra Modi.It is sure that BJP will remain front runnerin decades to come in Gujrat,madhyapradesh, Rajsthan,Karnatka.As an ardent supporter of Bjp I wish that party regain the lost glory in U.P.
i endorse the view of Mr. Mukul Goel and Mr. Kumar on the loss of seats in U.P. If BJP has to feel secured and comfortable in coming years it has to establish itself as the most viable option in U.P. and at the least work to win 60 seats from that state. Then no arthimetics would be required and no exit pollster would open their mouth in nationalised televisions. People in tamilnadu have little knowledge about a party called BJP and the worst is in kerala where people are oblivious about BJP. I m sure BJP has the greatest chance to form the goverment unless congress minions in the so-called independent commission indulge in manipulation.
Congress and the Left are co-ordinating to work out a plan jointly in which some key regional parties with numbers would be told to abstain from any voting in Lok Sabha if NDA is called in for their numbers.
This plan would let Congress to defeat NDA in the floor test on a No-confidence motion.
Hope! the leadership in BJP is aware of this plan and would muster sufficient numbers to foil any attempts of such a conspiracy which if successful would insult the people of India who want a BJP GOVERNMENT and have voted for Advaniji
So, PLEASE TAKE ALL PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO FOIL SUCH ATTEMPTS PLANNED JOINTLY BY LEFT AND CONGRESS AND SAVE THE DIGNITY AND PRIDE OF THE BJP VOTERS.
Thank you Mr JK , your endorsement of my stand has given me some strength to explore some solutions and to be a little bit outspoken.As a paticipant in friends of BJP I have every right to object the paty’s knee jerk decision making at various critical times.Leaders like Kalraj Mishra,Lalji tandon ,Vinay katiar and so many are
very good human being and has played their innings in organisation for a long time.now is the time when party should make passage to new talents to energise the cadre as new team will not hesitate to work on grass root level and may
reach to the hearts of the people with various new programmes and issues.for example,after the tieup with Mr Ajit Singh party may support issue of Harit Pradesh and can gather youths with them.
In the same way party may think to support Bundelkhand in order to make big political gains.
Only after joining these type of movements party may cover its lost ground in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
There is one big difference between traditional parties ( Congress ) and BJP . Once BJP is in power in any state or center it concentrates only in development of that state / country .
But congress is hell bent in developing only the party .
What BJP doing is the right thing but the problem is Congress and Commies creates mess of the country and try to improve the party and hence the poll prospects.
When BJP was in power in center they should have taken steps for parties growth in Tamilnadu,Kerala,W Bengal etc …
Lot of us are dissapointed with the exit poll results, however I would wait for the actual results as I am certain it will throw a diffrent number.
मीडिया द्वारा किये गए सारे सर्वेक्षण विफल होने वाले हैं जिसके अनुसार यू पी ए की बढ़त का दावा किया जा रहा है .
all the best to the bjp. only 2 hours to go.ihad a funny dream yday , that the bjp would win 300 seats and the congies around 60.
Wish the BJP best of luck for the results
BJP ia a sinking ship with presence in only a few days like gujarat,MP,KARNATAkA.congress has got an young leader and like RAJIV has capyured ite imagination of young india.The very presence of BJP makes even anti congress parties shed their the political space in the name of fighting the communal forces and help congress indirectly as could be seen from the parties insulted and humilited by congress offering unconditional support.My advice to BJP to cease to funtion as political party sothat other parties can fight the congress unitedly against dynastic and foreign controlled congress.SOlong as we have large population who vote unitedly to defeat the hindutva party against the divided hindu who are great supporters of bjp bashing there ios no hope for BJP and it is hightime BJP the truth and surrender gracefuly.History will repeat soon when our homeland will come under muslim direct domination.How else you can explain a primeminster who unabashedly says the muslim will get first priority on govt funds and sikhs voting for congress after 1984 massacre.WILL ANY MUSLIM VOTE FOR NARENDA ANY WHERE?It this unity which is lacking in hindus which was exploited by british and now by foreign lady working to convert INDIA into a christian nation in mind as per the agenda of vatican
BJP ia a sinking ship with presence in only a few days like gujarat,MP,KARNATAkA.congress has got an young leader and like RAJIV has captured the imagination of young india.The very presence of BJP makes even anti congress parties shed their the political space in the name of fighting the communal forces and help congress indirectly as could be seen from the parties insulted and humilited by congress offering unconditional support.My advice to BJP to cease to funtion as political party sothat other parties can fight the congress unitedly against dynastic and foreign controlled congress.Solong as we have large population who vote unitedly to defeat the hindutva party against the divided hindu who are great supporters of bjp bashing there is no hope for BJP and it is hightime BJP realise the truth and surrender gracefuly.History will repeat soon when our homeland will come under muslim direct domination.How else you can explain a primeminster who unabashedly says the muslim will get first priority on govt funds and sikhs voting for congress after 1984 massacre.WILL ANY MUSLIM VOTE FOR NARENDA ANY WHERE?It this unity which is lacking in hindus which was exploited by british and now by foreign lady working to convert INDIA into a christian nation in mind as per the agenda of vatican
do the son and daughters of rich congress leaders are the real reprentatives of youth of india