In BJP’s estimate, the party is losing Chhattisgarh though its CM Raman Singh is confident of the party doing a hat-trick
New Delhi : Notwithstanding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claiming a Narendra Modi wave in the current round of Assembly elections, it is rather an anti-incumbency wave discerned in all four main states as admitted by both the main rivals – BJP and Congress.
In the BJP’s estimate, the party is losing Chhattisgarh though its chief minister Raman Singh is confident of the party doing a hat-trick. In Madhya Pradesh, another BJP-ruled state, the party concedes after a day of the polling that it is a close fight and its chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan may have to look for others” support to cover up a possible deficit.
The party sees a similar anti-incumbency wave in the Congress-ruled Rajasthan and Delhi. Though it is confident to overthrow the Congress government led by chief minister Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan in a clean sweep, it is not that sure in Delhi where the party sources said the Congress led by chief minister Sheila Dikshit is definitely out, but the polling slated on December 4 may throw up a hung Assembly because of activist Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The Congress leaders are also doubtful for the party overcoming the anti-incumbency wave that is discerning in the capital after 15 years of Sheila Dikshit rule. If the party is able to register the victory in Delhi for the fourth time despite these anti-incumbency talks, it will be a great moral booster for the party, no matter if it loses in other three states, a senior party leader said.
According to an assessment made by the Congress leadership on the basis of inputs from the state party leaders, the party is winning hands down in Mizoram and the verdict will be clear-cut in favour of the party in Chhattisgarh as well since even the BJP concedes that it is losing in the state. The reports from Bhopal also indicate that the Congress is on strong footing and the party may score a victory, the senior party leader said, pointing out that there should be no surprise if the Congress makes it even in Rajasthan in a photo-finish in the polls slated on Sunday.
He, however, admits that it will be very demoralising for the Congress if it loses in all the four major states in the direct fight with the BJP as the party won’t be able to deny that it was a sort of referendum on the UPA government and concede that there is a Modi wave.
In his view, on test in this round of elections is the Congress unpopularity and Modi’s popularity unlike ten years ago when then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s popularity was not on test as in the case of Modi.
Asked if there would be a rethink in the BJP on the PM candidature of Modi if the party loses Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh despite his intense campaigning, a top BJP leader said the decision to field him for the PM’s post is final and nobody will think of replacing him even if the party loses in all the states as it is going to contest the Lok Sabha elections under his command and the selection of candidates will be also as per his wish.
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