Indian National Congress Gains Momentum in State Elections

For the first time since the 2014 general elections, the Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) receded on India’s map in the recent "semi-final" elections held across five states – Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. With 679 seats up for grabs, Congress made a comeback securing 301 seats, a four percent swing compared to 2013. 83 seats from these states contribute to the Lok Sabha in Delhi, predicting a 33-seat gain for Congress in the 2019 general elections.

Farmer disgruntlement and rural anguish are two of the many reasons for decreased BJP support. These elections have led to speculation that the hardline Hindu politics of Narendra Modi and his party are losing steam. With the economic climate in the country, maybe BJP needs more than its Hindutva agenda to impress.