The fate of several constituencies were sealed with the ballot in 2015, let's have a look at who took the pole (poll) position and for whom it was 'close, but no cigar'.
Elections in India are no less than festivals and each party leaves no stone unturned to ensure that they make the most of this festive spirit by wooing the masses. However, each election puts a lot of things at stake for the voters as well as the candidates. It determines the future of a constituency for next five years. The fate of several constituencies were sealed with the ballot in 2015, let's have a look at who won and who just could not make it:
Bihar State Elections
The 243 member Bihar legislative assembly was swept clean by the Grand Alliance or Mahagathbandhan securing 178 seats, while the NDA managed to win only 58 seats. This elections made the most noise in 2015 because of various factors, right from controversial comments, tall promise ("I am here today to honour my promise... how much do you want? Rs 50,000 crore, 60,000, 70,000, 75,000, 80,000? I am announcing a package of Rs. 1.25 lakh crore," Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his Bihar rally on August 18), involvement of political heavyweights (and their walking out of alliance scenes) to the repercussions that the state election would have on central government and it's policies.
Delhi Assembly Elections
Portrayed as an underdog, Arvind Kejriwal registered a landslide victory in Delhi securing 67 out of 70 seats in the assembly , whereas the two major political parties faced humiliating defeat. Congress having ruled the state for 15 years and BJP riding high on it's prized victories of 2014 were reduced to zero and three respectively.
After almost a year of Governor's rule, when Kejriwal quit after his 49 days tumultuous regime, his comeback was nothing less than a masterstroke.
Gujarat Civic Body elections
Ringing alarm bells for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home turf, the Gujarat civic body elections did not seem swayed by the 'Modi wave', as the ruling party having won urban pockets suffered a setback in rural areas of Gujarat, making way for Congress.
Kerala Civic Body elections
Congress faced a major setback in the civic elections in this southern state, as the Left marched by sweeping clear majority and winning 550 out of 941 local bodies and 90 out of 152 block panchayats. Though the saffron party's alliance with backward Hindu Ezhava outfit Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam did not work in their favour, Congress was sent to a distant third spot as BJP made inroads in the state.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF)'s victory could be credited to a number of local issues, anti-incumbency of Congress government and Hindutva agenda of Sangh Parivar.
Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Civic (KDMC) Elections
Shiv Sena in the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Civic (KDMC) elections proved that it has not lost its clout over Mumbai's neighbouring district, as they managed to independently emerge as the largest party with 52 seats out of 122 in the election held on November 1, whereas their alliance partner in the state as well as centre gained 42 seats. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' comment that Sena had brought bad name to the state led to the fallout between the two parties. However, post-poll results, their dispute was amicably settled and a provision for rotational sharing of mayor's was made.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) was the one to have lost out with their seat share declining to nine from 28 previously.
Bengaluru’s Municipal body elections
Amidst allegations that the Congress-led government at the state by Siddaramaiah was trying to defer the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections because they were unsure of the results, Congress lost out on the IT capital of the country due to various civic issues. The incumbent BJP managed to gain control over 100 wards out of 198, in it's third consecutive civic poll win after Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Karnataka has always had the same party ruling the state and BBMP. However, with Congress's defeat, it's for the first time that different parties would be ruling the state and the city.
Madhya Pradesh Civic Polls
Despite serious allegations raised against the BJP government in the state over the Vyapam scam, BJP won in all 16 municipal corporations, whereas Congress received flak for holding Parliament at ransom over resignation of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Rajasthan Civic Polls
In a neck-to-neck electoral race, though the ruling party in the state lost out in Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's bastion, it did win majority in the civic polls by securing 1,443 wards out total of 3,351 wards. However, what was commendable in these elections was the comeback of Congress, with the entire opposition bagging 1,908 wards, of which 1,164 were won by Congress. The difference in the vote share of Congress and that of BJP was only 2%.
West Bengal Civic Polls
Inspite of alleged involvement of leaders of Trinamool Congress in the Saradha Chit Fund scam, the party secured a landslide victory clinching 114 seats out of 144 in Kolkata Municipal Corporation and 69 out of 91 civic bodies, whereas BJP was left with a miserable seven in KMC. These polls held were to act as a litmus test for the state assembly elections due in 2016. Thus, the results proved to be a huge blow to BJP, Congress and the Left.
Kolhapur Civic polls
Though a local political party and BJP's ally, Tara Rani Aghadi ate into the vote share of Congress and NCP, the ruling alliance kept their control over the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC), by bagging 27 and 15 seats respectively.
Assam civic polls
With Assam state elections scheduled for 2016, Congress faced a major setback as Tarun Gogoi had to step down after BJP won 340 wards in the aftermath of Delhi elections and Congress was left with 232 wards.
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