BJP assessing ‘what went wrong’ despite sweeping BMC elections: Report
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made history in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections by winning 89 seats, the highest number of seats a party has won alone since 2002. However, despite this impressive victory, the party is introspecting and assessing what went wrong, as it had hoped to win 110 seats. According to a report by the Hindustan Times, the BJP’s state leadership is reportedly unhappy with the outcome, and party leaders are analyzing the reasons behind the shortfall.
The BMC elections were held on February 21, and the results were declared on February 23. The BJP’s victory was largely expected, given its strong organizational structure and the popularity of its leaders in the state. However, the party’s failure to reach its target of 110 seats has raised questions about its strategy and campaign.
BJP leaders believe that one of the main reasons for the shortfall was a lack of coordination within the party’s Mumbai unit. The party’s campaign was led by several senior leaders, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar. However, there were reports of infighting and differences within the party’s Mumbai unit, which may have affected the campaign’s effectiveness.
Another reason cited by BJP leaders is the party’s failure to counter the “Mumbai pride” pitch made by the Thackeray cousins, Aaditya and Tejas. The Thackeray cousins, who are members of the Shiv Sena party, had launched a campaign emphasizing the importance of preserving Mumbai’s cultural identity and protecting the interests of its citizens. The BJP, on the other hand, focused more on its development agenda and the performance of its government in the state.
The Shiv Sena, which is the BJP’s ally in the state government, won 84 seats in the BMC elections, a significant improvement from its previous tally. The Congress party, which was once the dominant force in the BMC, won just 31 seats, its lowest tally in decades.
The BJP’s victory in the BMC elections is significant, as it marks a major shift in the city’s politics. The party has been steadily gaining ground in Mumbai over the past few years, and its victory in the BMC elections is a testament to its growing popularity in the city.
However, the party’s failure to reach its target of 110 seats is a cause for concern. The BJP had hoped to win a majority of the seats in the BMC, which would have given it control over the city’s civic administration. Instead, the party will have to rely on the support of other parties, including the Shiv Sena, to pass key resolutions and decisions.
The BJP’s state leadership is reportedly unhappy with the outcome, and party leaders are already discussing ways to improve the party’s performance in future elections. The party is expected to conduct a thorough review of its campaign strategy and identify areas for improvement.
In conclusion, the BJP’s victory in the BMC elections is a significant achievement, but the party’s failure to reach its target of 110 seats is a cause for concern. The party’s leaders believe that a lack of coordination within the Mumbai unit and the failure to counter the “Mumbai pride” pitch made by the Thackeray cousins were the main reasons for the shortfall. The party will have to regroup and reassess its strategy to achieve better results in future elections.
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