People’s retribution

The results of Lok Sabha polls virtually flabbergasted Narendra Modi who claimed puffing out his 56 inch chest that the BJP would win 400 seats to the 543-memember parliament and the results also shocked the agencies that released exit polls favouring him.Alongside falling short of two-third majority for establishing Ramarajya, the BJP has to rely on the generosity of NDA allies for running the government. Even as INDIA bloc started wooing some of the NDA members, Amit Shah is struggling for the support of TDP in Andhra and Nitish Kumar in Bihar. There is no doubt Rahul-Akhilesh bonhomie played a major role in unsettling the bastion of Yogi Adityanath. Having won 70 out of the 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh last time, the BJP never imagined the setback in store for them. The saffron army is frantic after having lost half of the seats they previously won. Modi and Amit Sha went to polls in Maharshtra with the confidence of having successfully captured the state government after dividing Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena and Sarath Pawar's NCP intimidating the factions using ED and IT.

Sarat Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray,nevertheless lost their flag and the name of the party they established, gave a body blow to the BJP through their Maha Vikas Agadi. The BJP has disappointing performance as they set out to defeat the Congress having been inebriated from the victory in assembly polls in Rajasthan. In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee single-handedly harnessed the BJP. The Election Commission scheduled the elections in north India, which is under scorching heat, in seven phases to suit the star campaigning of the PM Modi, where it could have been completed in two or three phases. Gallivanting across the nation splurging crore of rupees, PM Modi spoke in 155 campaign rallies, berating his prime rival the Congress for 2942 times and abused the largest religious minority for 288 times. Alongside the BJP got defected whoever possible from Opposition parties by intimidating and offering positions. The fund of the Congress got frozen at one point. Godi media praised all these things. On the polling day, there were complaint of RS-Bajrang Dal activists stopping people who were deemed not vote for the lotus. The exit poll results in the aftermath of elections created the feeling that Modi-gang will return to power with a thumping majority. Eventually and Amit Shah is now sweating a lot to cobble up a government.This development is certainly reassuring and promising. To an extent the development reminds of how people settled a score in 1977 election that came after Indira Gandhi declared emergency. PM Modi was creating the impression that Ram Temple in Ayodhya could solve falling prices of crops that broke the back of famers, soaring prices of essentials and increasing unemployment, without bringing to table anything helpful.Without giving room for bonhomie and peaceful co-existence, those in power was trying to divide people sowing hatred and thought it the only way to power. The wise will view these results as an opportunity to dispel such notions.

When it comes to Kerala, the Left Front led by Pinarayi Vijayan suffered a huge setback. Winning just one seat shows that the second term of the government is not satisfying the voters. It is true that state is facing troubles from the unsympathetic approach of the Centre. People must have acknowledged it. The public reaction shows that they remain unconvinced of the state government having done things possible for it. When the Congress and the Left, which are part of the INDIA bloc, acted like enemies, the BJP capitalised on it winning its first seat. PM Modi’s multiple visits to the state, leakage in the secular camp alongside the support of a particular religious minority may have helped bloom the BJP in Thrissur and increased its vote share. It is to be carefully observed how these development will influence the state’s future. It is not to be forgotten that the laxity and frailty of the secular parties helped the fascists run amok in the country.