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Modi’s Party Leading in Key State Elections Modi’s Party Leading in Key State Elections
(35 minutes later)
NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party led by a large margin in two important state elections where votes were counted on Sunday, substantially expanding the Bharatiya Janata Party’s territory and opening the door to future control of the upper house of Parliament.NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party led by a large margin in two important state elections where votes were counted on Sunday, substantially expanding the Bharatiya Janata Party’s territory and opening the door to future control of the upper house of Parliament.
The strong showing could largely be attributed to Mr. Modi himself, who served as the face of the B.J.P.'s campaign — a departure from tradition in state campaigns, which usually center on local issues and the personality of the candidate for chief minister.The strong showing could largely be attributed to Mr. Modi himself, who served as the face of the B.J.P.'s campaign — a departure from tradition in state campaigns, which usually center on local issues and the personality of the candidate for chief minister.
The Indian National Congress, still staggering from its crushing loss in the general election in May, placed a distant third in both states, Maharashtra and Haryana, which it has controlled politically since 2009. Constrained in his ability to push through legislation, Mr. Modi has been intensely focused on gaining a foothold in the upper house of Parliament, which will see substantial turnover in 2016.The Indian National Congress, still staggering from its crushing loss in the general election in May, placed a distant third in both states, Maharashtra and Haryana, which it has controlled politically since 2009. Constrained in his ability to push through legislation, Mr. Modi has been intensely focused on gaining a foothold in the upper house of Parliament, which will see substantial turnover in 2016.
Together, Maharashtra and Haryana send 24 representatives to the upper house. Currently, the B.J.P. holds just two seats from Maharashtra and none from Haryana.Together, Maharashtra and Haryana send 24 representatives to the upper house. Currently, the B.J.P. holds just two seats from Maharashtra and none from Haryana.
Though final counts were still underway by late afternoon Sunday, the B.J.P. had secured 47 of 90 seats in the northern state of Haryana, allowing the party to form a state government without forming a coalition. This is remarkable because the B.J.P. has traditionally had little support in the heavily agricultural state, having secured only four seats in Haryana’s previous state assembly.Though final counts were still underway by late afternoon Sunday, the B.J.P. had secured 47 of 90 seats in the northern state of Haryana, allowing the party to form a state government without forming a coalition. This is remarkable because the B.J.P. has traditionally had little support in the heavily agricultural state, having secured only four seats in Haryana’s previous state assembly.
The B.J.P. also led in Maharashtra with 112 of the state’s 288 assembly seats, falling short of the majority necessary to form a state government without forming a coalition.The B.J.P. also led in Maharashtra with 112 of the state’s 288 assembly seats, falling short of the majority necessary to form a state government without forming a coalition.
On Election Day last week, many voters in Maharashtra said they decided to back B.J.P. because it was in control of the government and therefore could deliver services.On Election Day last week, many voters in Maharashtra said they decided to back B.J.P. because it was in control of the government and therefore could deliver services.
“Ask anyone in Chimbai who to vote for, and they will tell you: ‘Jeetane ke liye vote dey do,"’ a Hindi phrase that means “vote for the winner,” said Chanda Devi, a maid who lives in a village inside Mumbai. “That is a very simple thing to understand. A majority will bring strong government.” “Ask anyone in Chimbai who to vote for, and they will tell you: ‘Jeetane ke liye vote dey do,' " a Hindi phrase that means “vote for the winner,” said Chanda Devi, a maid who lives in a village inside Mumbai. “That is a very simple thing to understand. A majority will bring strong government.”
The B.J.P. has saturated Maharashtra with a glossy campaign of print, television and social media advertisements, most of them focusing on Mr. Modi.The B.J.P. has saturated Maharashtra with a glossy campaign of print, television and social media advertisements, most of them focusing on Mr. Modi.
Gayatri Balani, a jewelry designer, said her whole family backed Mr. Modi because they see him as capable of reining in the country’s bureaucrats, who are widely viewed as corrupt and indolent. “Fear is the only thing that can bring discipline to people in government who have never ever heard of discipline,” she said. “I hear officials in Delhi are actually showing up to their offices on time, which is unheard of.” Gayatri Balani, a jewelry designer, said her whole family backed Mr. Modi because they see him as capable of reining in the country’s bureaucrats, who are widely viewed as corrupt and indolent. “Fear is the only thing that can bring discipline to people in government who have never ever heard of discipline,” she said. “I hear officials in Delhi are actually showing up to their offices on time, which is unheard-of.”
She said she voted for the B.J.P. because she was “sick of things not working.” But some expressed frustration with the focus on Mr. Modi. Mohammad Rafi Elahi, a Mumbai tailor, said the issues that mattered to him were close to home, like efficient supply of power and water. She said she voted for the B.J.P. because she was “sick of things not working.” But some expressed frustration with the focus on Mr. Modi. Mohammad Rafi Elahi, a Mumbai tailor, said the issues that mattered to him were close to home, like the efficient supply of power and water.
He expressed frustration that in his neighborhood, “there are no toilets here for poor people,” forcing locals to send workers to urinate and defecate on the rocks by the sea. He expressed frustration that in his neighborhood, “there are no toilets here for poor people,” forcing local residents to send workers to urinate and defecate on the rocks by the sea.
“This election is about local issues,” he said, ones decided by local officials, not the prime minister. “Modi, Modi, Modi. Especially on TV, that’s all you hear. What’s wrong with you media people that you keep going on about this man? Tell me one thing he has done.”“This election is about local issues,” he said, ones decided by local officials, not the prime minister. “Modi, Modi, Modi. Especially on TV, that’s all you hear. What’s wrong with you media people that you keep going on about this man? Tell me one thing he has done.”