This election was seen as a test for Prime Minister Narendra Modi before he seeks a third term.
The BJP won more seats than 270 in the state assembly’s 403 seats, which is well above the 202 required to form Uttar Pradesh’s state government. This resounding win makes the BJP the first party to win consecutive terms as a bellwether in more than three decades.
Uttar Pradesh is home of more than 220million Indians, or 1.32 billion. The most number of legislators sent by the state (80) to the national parliament is the highest in India. Its chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, who has just won his second term in office, is a Hindu monk-turned-politician who some political pundits believe is a possible successor to Modi on the national stage.
Adityanath supports his party’s Hindu nationalist agenda openly. Although he denies being anti Muslim, his rise to power has coincided with anti Muslim hate crimes and violence in that country, including lynchings.
The BJP won elections this week in Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa, along with Uttar Pradesh. Only one of the five elections saw the party lose, Punjab.
These elections took place after several devastating waves of COVID-19 that left the country in ruins, worsening unemployment, and increasing inflation. Modi’s government faced the greatest challenge in the aftermath of widespread protests from farmers.
According to CBS News, Neelanjan Sicar, a senior fellow at Centre for Policy Research, an Indian think tank, “But the economic anxiety among the people didn’t translate into a vote for the BJP,” he said.
“Hindutva”, fear of minorities
Sircar stated that Hindutva ideology was always a factor in BJP’s victories. However, he also said that Thursday’s election results were about the BJP’s “ability to create a narrative around issues and a persona surrounding Modi.”
India is home of more than 200 million Muslims. Critics of BJP claim that the party has intentionally polarized national politics along sectarian and marginalized minorities. They cite controversial new citizenship laws , a Hijab ban and speeches by politicians advocating attacks against Muslims.
The BJP insists that it stands by its inclusive slogan “sabka sathsabka vikas,” which means “everyone’s support, everybody’s development.”
Right-wing groups in India speak out about their vision of secular India becoming a Hindu Rashtra (nation). Activists fear that the BJP will allow things to progress in this direction. This could lead to increased violence and curtailing Muslims’ rights.
Sircar stated that “My fear is that, as people look at the events in Uttar Pradesh,” the new model for anyone trying to rise within the BJP will be to be more aggressive.” Sircar spoke to CBS News.