Post-State Polls Fallout: BJP Dominance and Congress' Strategic Prospects for the 2024 Electoral Battle

New Delhi: The recent state assembly elections in India have reverberations across the political landscape, setting the stage for the much-awaited 2024 general elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious in three important states of the Hindi belt – Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan dealing a major blow to the Congress and the broader opposition alliance. In a surprising turn of events, the Congress’ only victory came in Telangana, displacing the once major regional player, the Indian National Committee, while Mizoram remained out of the major national party story.

Hindustan Times Political Editor Sunetra Chaudhary and Deputy National Editor Dipankar Ghosh discuss the post-poll analysis in depth on the “Grand Tamasha” podcast. Reflecting on the BJP’s success, Ghosh highlighted the party’s sharp political acumen and quick response to potential threats and attributed this to its grassroots connect. Contrasting leadership styles also played an important role, especially in Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP exploited differences between the flashy public presence of current CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and the less approachable personalities of Kamal Nath and Digvijay Singh from the Congress.

While the BJP seems to be in a strong position, analysts are cautious about defeating Congress in the 2024 general elections. Chaudhary pointed to the Congress’s retained strengths, including a large talent pool on display in Karnataka. The recent change in the Congress high command, with Mallikarjun Kharge taking charge, and distancing himself from the Gandhi family, is being seen as a positive development.

Ghosh added a ray of hope for the opposition, suggesting that Congress’s failure in the Hindi belt could spur coalition building ahead of the 2024 elections. Ghosh argued that disciplinary experience could shatter egos and create a more equitable environment for opposition parties to cooperate effectively. The way forward depends on the Congress taking an equal seat at the alliance table and promoting a collaborative strategy for the India alliance in the upcoming electoral battle, he said. As the political landscape evolves, the results of state elections are shaping the narrative and strategies of key players preparing for the 2024 political showdown.