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Indian Leader’s Party Gains Seats in Key State Elections Indian Leader’s Party Gains Seats in Key State Votes
(about 4 hours later)
NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party won the largest number of seats 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 won the largest number of seats 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 party’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 Maharashtra and Haryana, both states it has controlled for at least a decade.The Indian National Congress, still staggering from its crushing loss in the general election in May, placed a distant third in Maharashtra and Haryana, both states it has controlled for at least a decade.
Amit Shah, the B.J.P.'s president and Mr. Modi’s main electoral strategist, was exultant on Sunday, telling reporters at a news conference that the results were “two more steps forward in our campaign to achieve a Congress-free India.” Amit Shah, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s president and Mr. Modi’s main electoral strategist, was exultant on Sunday, telling reporters at a news conference that the results were “two more steps forward in our campaign to achieve a Congress-free India.”
The final counts showed that 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 final counts showed that 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 building a coalition. This is remarkable because it 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.'s victory on Sunday was not complete: Party leaders had hoped for a majority in Maharashtra, too, but fell short of that, with 122 of the state’s 288 assembly seats. On Sunday the party made overtures toward its traditional partner, the Shiv Sena, which had split forces ahead of the election. The party’s victory on Sunday was not complete: Its leaders had hoped for a majority in Maharashtra, too, but fell short of that, with 122 of the state’s 288 assembly seats. On Sunday the party made overtures toward its traditional partner, the Shiv Sena, which had split forces ahead of the election.
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. 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. The B.J.P. holds just two seats from Maharashtra and none from Haryana.
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 party 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 the 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 said 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.He said 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.”