Editor's Pick: BJP retains four States, AAP scores landslide in Punjab

Of the five States that went to the polls, the BJP won four - Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Goa - while the Aam Aadmi Party swept Punjab. In U.P., the BJP won two-thirds of the seats and increased its vote share. The Samajwadi Party, its main rival, doubled its 2017 tally, but fell way short of a majority. The party’s attempt to mobilise Dalits and Other Backward Classes could not win against the BJP’s combination of welfarism, Hindutva discourse and expansive accommodation of OBCs and Dalits. The BJP was also supported by a large number of women in the State. With the win, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has emerged as the first among equals among BJP Chief Ministers but will have to wait longer to rise even higher, writes Nistula Hebbar here. The defeat is humbling for SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who failed to capitalise on growing disenchantment, the government’s mishandling of the pandemic and the farmers’ agitation. The alliance that he forged was too little, too late, writes Anuj Kumar. Asim Ali writes about the ideological clash between the BJP and SP in U.P. and decodes the political mandate here. In Punjab, where there was resentment against the Akali Dal and the Congress, which had installed a new Chief Minister just months ago and was dealing with infighting, the AAP won decisively. All the stalwarts of the Congress and Akali Dal, such as Navjot Singh Sidhu, Charanjit Singh Channi and the Badals, lost their seats. The AAP will now have two Chief Ministers in the country, which is as many as the Congress. The party managed to sell its ‘Delhi governance’ model to the voters and present an alternative politics, writes Vikas Vasudeva. In Manipur, Goa and Uttarakhand, where its main rival was the Congress, the BJP won enough seats to form the government. In Uttarakhand, this is the first time any party has won a second term in the State. The Congress was embroiled in infighting while the BJP’s top leaders visited the State to campaign and focused on development work, writes Namita Singh. While the party fell short of an absolute majority in Goa, it obtained the support of five more candidates. In Manipur, where the BJP allied with the Naga People's Front, it won one seat above the absolute majority mark. The BJP and AAP have gained huge momentum ahead of the 2024 general election. While the AAP has seen a swift rise in the 10 years since its inception, there is still no one party that can challenge the BJP's communal polarisation politics combined with its strongman rhetoric and welfarism, says The Hindu editorial today Much more is needed than just smart electioneering or tactical plays to challenge the BJP behemoth, says Seems Chishti in this analysis of the five States. Given the Congress’s miserable performance yet again, it is the AAP now that is seeking to become a national party as well as the BJP’s main opposition party. Much will depend on the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections, which the party is contesting later this year. Given these shifts in the political landscape of the country, this is the top story of the day. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. Click here The Hindu’s Editorials The winning formula: On the polarisation politics of BJP The Hindu’s Daily Quiz The agriculture sector uses what percentage of total water use in India? 70% Over 90% 80% 60% To find out the answer and play the full quiz, click here [logo] Editor's Pick 11 MARCH 2022 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( BJP retains four States, AAP scores landslide in Punjab Of the five States that went to the polls, the BJP won four - Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Goa - while the Aam Aadmi Party swept Punjab. In U.P., the BJP won two-thirds of the seats and increased its vote share. The Samajwadi Party, its main rival, doubled its 2017 tally, but fell way short of a majority. The party’s attempt to mobilise Dalits and Other Backward Classes could not win against the BJP’s combination of welfarism, Hindutva discourse and expansive accommodation of OBCs and Dalits. The BJP was also supported by a large number of women in the State. With the win, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has emerged as the first among equals among BJP Chief Ministers but will have to wait longer to rise even higher, writes Nistula Hebbar [here](. The defeat is humbling for SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who failed to capitalise on growing disenchantment, the government’s mishandling of the pandemic and the farmers’ agitation. The alliance that he forged was too little, too late, writes [Anuj Kumar.]( Asim Ali writes about the ideological clash between the BJP and SP in U.P. and decodes the political mandate [here.]( In Punjab, where there was resentment against the Akali Dal and the Congress, which had installed a new Chief Minister just months ago and was dealing with infighting, the AAP won decisively. All the stalwarts of the Congress and Akali Dal, such as Navjot Singh Sidhu, Charanjit Singh Channi and the Badals, lost their seats. The AAP will now have two Chief Ministers in the country, which is as many as the Congress. The party managed to sell its[‘Delhi governance’ model]( to the voters and present an alternative politics, writes Vikas Vasudeva. In Manipur, Goa and Uttarakhand, where its main rival was the Congress, the BJP won enough seats to form the government. In Uttarakhand, this is the first time any party has won a second term in the State. The Congress was embroiled in infighting while the [BJP’s top leaders visited the State to campaign]( and focused on development work, writes Namita Singh. While the party fell short of an absolute majority in Goa, it obtained the support of five more candidates. In Manipur, where the BJP allied with the Naga People's Front, it won one seat above the absolute majority mark. The BJP and AAP have gained huge momentum ahead of the 2024 general election. While the AAP has seen a swift rise in the 10 years since its inception, there is still no one party that can challenge the BJP's communal polarisation politics combined with its strongman rhetoric and welfarism, says [The Hindu editorial today]( more is needed than just smart electioneering or tactical plays to challenge the BJP behemoth, says Seems Chishti in [this]( analysis of the five States. Given the Congress’s miserable performance yet again, it is the AAP now that is seeking to become a national party as well as the BJP’s main opposition party. Much will depend on the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections, which the party is contesting later this year. Given these shifts in the political landscape of the country, this is the top story of the day. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more.  [Click here]( The Hindu’s Editorials [Arrow][The winning formula: On the polarisation politics of BJP]( The Hindu’s Daily Quiz The agriculture sector uses what percentage of total water use in India? - 70% - Over 90% - 80% - 60% To find out the answer and play the full quiz, [click here]( Today’s Best Reads [[Five State polls, their messages and implications] Five State polls, their messages and implications]( [[India's gold imports bounced back to 1,067 tonnes in 2021: GJEPC] India's gold imports bounced back to 1,067 tonnes in 2021: GJEPC]( [[A demonstration of a durable political phenomenon] A demonstration of a durable political phenomenon]( [[In U.P., a humbling loss for Akhilesh] In U.P., a humbling loss for Akhilesh]( Copyright @ 2022, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. If you are facing any trouble in viewing this newsletter, please [try here]( If you do not wish to receive such emails [go here](