With its victory in Assam today, the BJP has cracked the northeastern challenge.
New Delhi:
With its victory in Assam today, the BJP has cracked the northeastern challenge - putting a chief minister there before completing two years in office at the Centre. It has also opened its account in Kerala with a first Assembly seat and increased its footprint in Bengal.
The BJP says this transforms it to a pan-Indian party. Party chief Amit Shah today said this lays the foundation for the next Lok Sabha elections in 2019.
But the BJP's victory in Assam, first seat in Kerala and a rise in voteshare in Bengal come with their own challenges.
For one, the outcome will not strengthen the BJP even in Parliament to move its crucial reform agenda. The maths in Rajya Sabha, where the government is in minority, won't change much. From 64, the Congress may be down to 57 members, but regional parties will not make things easy for the BJP.
In a break from the past, the BJP has fielded a local, Union minister Sarbanand Sonowal, as the Chief Ministerial candidate in Assam. It was a fallout of the lessons learnt in Delhi and Bihar - where the fielding of Kiran Bedi and not fielding anyone had contributed to the party's losses.
This is expected to raise aspirations in other poll-bound states - especially in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, which face elections next year.
When asked, Mr Shah said, "We will decide these issues as per the situation on the ground."
In Kerala, the party's alliance resulted in a rise in vote percentage, but it could only win one seat. The BJP needs to take a relook not just at its alliance, but also at ways to create a better caste bouquet to become a player strong enough to take on the UDF and the LDF.
Governance will also be an issue. For decades, the BJP has campaigned against the presence and entry of Bangladeshis in Assam. Now the party will have to take a stand and deliver on its poll promises.
Meanwhile in Delhi, with the state elections over, the focus will be on the organisational changes in the BJP and a cabinet reshuffle.
It is expected that Team Modi and Shah will lead the party and the government in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Asked about when PM Modi is likely to rejig his cabinet, Mr Shah said, "That decision has not been taken.
The BJP says this transforms it to a pan-Indian party. Party chief Amit Shah today said this lays the foundation for the next Lok Sabha elections in 2019.
But the BJP's victory in Assam, first seat in Kerala and a rise in voteshare in Bengal come with their own challenges.
For one, the outcome will not strengthen the BJP even in Parliament to move its crucial reform agenda. The maths in Rajya Sabha, where the government is in minority, won't change much. From 64, the Congress may be down to 57 members, but regional parties will not make things easy for the BJP.
In a break from the past, the BJP has fielded a local, Union minister Sarbanand Sonowal, as the Chief Ministerial candidate in Assam. It was a fallout of the lessons learnt in Delhi and Bihar - where the fielding of Kiran Bedi and not fielding anyone had contributed to the party's losses.
This is expected to raise aspirations in other poll-bound states - especially in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, which face elections next year.
When asked, Mr Shah said, "We will decide these issues as per the situation on the ground."
In Kerala, the party's alliance resulted in a rise in vote percentage, but it could only win one seat. The BJP needs to take a relook not just at its alliance, but also at ways to create a better caste bouquet to become a player strong enough to take on the UDF and the LDF.
Governance will also be an issue. For decades, the BJP has campaigned against the presence and entry of Bangladeshis in Assam. Now the party will have to take a stand and deliver on its poll promises.
Meanwhile in Delhi, with the state elections over, the focus will be on the organisational changes in the BJP and a cabinet reshuffle.
It is expected that Team Modi and Shah will lead the party and the government in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Asked about when PM Modi is likely to rejig his cabinet, Mr Shah said, "That decision has not been taken.
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