Infighting, Public Anger, Lallu Singh’s Slip of Tongue: What Led to BJP’s Poll Debacle in UP – ThePrint

Infighting, Public Anger, Lallu Singh’s Slip of Tongue: What Led to BJP’s Poll Debacle in UP – ThePrint

Infighting: Internal divisions within the BJP, particularly between the Yogi Adityanath and Keshav Prasad Maurya factions, had been brewing for some time. This led to factionalism and a lack of coordination in the party’s campaign.

Public Anger: The BJP government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising unemployment, and inflation had alienated a significant portion of the electorate. The perception of arrogance and elitism further eroded public support.

Lallu Singh’s Slip of Tongue: BJP leader Lallu Singh’s comment that the party was not for “backward Muslims” caused widespread outrage among the Muslim community, which forms a significant vote bank in Uttar Pradesh. This gaffe alienated many Muslim voters who had traditionally supported the BJP.

Other Factors:

The Samajwadi Party’s (SP) effective campaign strategy, which focused on local issues and projected Akhilesh Yadav as a more inclusive leader, resonated with voters.
The Bahujan Samaj Party’s (BSP) support base remained intact, preventing the BJP from making significant inroads among Dalit voters.
The Congress, despite its weak position, benefited from the anti-incumbency sentiment and managed to increase its vote share.

These factors combined to contribute to the BJP’s defeat in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. The party’s failure to address internal divisions, address public grievances, and avoid major gaffes proved costly.