The combined Opposition-backed RLD candidate humbling BJP in Kairana — after SP-BSP recently wrested Phulpur and Gorakhpur — has given a hat trick of jolts to Modi-Adityanath.With incompatible social bases, an SP-BSP-Congress-RLD alliance was unthinkable until recently. In Maharashtra, Congress ‘strategy’ presented two curious cases.Despite getting BJP MP Patole to join the party, ‘alliance keen’ AICC offered his Bhandara-Gondia seat to NCP. Patole, however, worked hard for NCP’s win, even though certain NCP leaders intriguingly absent for the campaign were seen only on TV after the result. In Palghar, the Congress finished fifth, suggesting a possible vote transfer to the Sena nominee with the aim of intensifying its rivalry with BJP.Congress and regional parties competing for leadership space in an anti-BJP alliance did equally well in the assembly bypolls too. Congress retained one seat each in Maharashtra and Meghalaya and wrested a SAD seat in Punjab, while RJD wrested JDU’s seat in Bihar, SP BJP’s seat in UP and Trinamool, Left and JMM retained their seats.The ‘even performance’ of anti-BJP parties should make Congress hit the ground running in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

Source: Economic Times June 01, 2018 01:52 UTC