BJP assessing ‘what went wrong’ despite sweeping BMC elections: Report
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged as the clear winner in the recently concluded Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, securing 89 seats, the highest number of seats a party has won alone since 2002. However, despite this impressive performance, the party is reportedly assessing what went wrong, as it had hoped to win 110 seats. According to a report in the Hindustan Times, BJP leaders believe that the reasons for falling short of their target could be attributed to a lack of coordination within the Mumbai unit and not effectively countering the “Mumbai pride” pitch of the Thackeray cousins.
The BMC elections, which were held on February 21, saw the BJP making significant gains, with the party’s seat tally increasing from 31 in 2017 to 89 in 2023. This impressive performance has been seen as a major victory for the BJP, which has been working to expand its base in the state of Maharashtra. However, despite this success, the party’s state leadership is reportedly unhappy with the outcome, as they had expected to win more seats.
According to BJP leaders, one of the main reasons for the party’s failure to reach its target of 110 seats was a lack of coordination within the Mumbai unit. The party’s Mumbai unit has been plagued by infighting and factionalism, which is believed to have affected the party’s performance in the elections. Additionally, the party’s failure to effectively counter the “Mumbai pride” pitch of the Thackeray cousins, who are the leaders of the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, is also being seen as a major reason for the party’s inability to reach its target.
The “Mumbai pride” pitch, which was used by the Thackeray cousins to appeal to the emotions of the city’s voters, was a major factor in the Shiv Sena’s ability to retain its hold on the BMC. The pitch, which emphasized the importance of protecting the city’s interests and promoting the development of Mumbai, resonated with many voters, who felt that the BJP’s focus on national issues was not relevant to the city’s local problems. The BJP’s failure to effectively counter this pitch is believed to have cost the party dearly, as many voters who might have otherwise supported the BJP were swayed by the Thackeray cousins’ emotional appeal.
Another reason for the BJP’s failure to reach its target is believed to be the party’s over-reliance on its national leaders. While the party’s national leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, campaigned extensively in the city, the party’s local leaders were not able to match their enthusiasm and energy. This is believed to have affected the party’s ability to connect with voters at the local level, which is critical in municipal elections.
The BJP’s performance in the BMC elections has significant implications for the party’s future plans in the state of Maharashtra. The party has been working to expand its base in the state, which has traditionally been a stronghold of the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party. While the party’s performance in the BMC elections is a major step forward, the party’s failure to reach its target is a setback, which will require the party to re-evaluate its strategy and approach.
In conclusion, the BJP’s performance in the BMC elections is a mixed bag. While the party’s victory is a significant achievement, the party’s failure to reach its target of 110 seats is a disappointment. The party’s assessment of what went wrong will be critical in determining its future strategy and approach, not just in Mumbai, but in the state of Maharashtra as a whole. As the party looks to the future, it will need to address the issues that affected its performance in the BMC elections, including the lack of coordination within the Mumbai unit and the failure to effectively counter the “Mumbai pride” pitch of the Thackeray cousins.
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