Poll results signal chance of Congress, BSP, SP coalition

The Assembly election results in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan have given some food for thought to both the Congress and its possible allies — the BSP and the SP — for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The two parties had decided to stay away from forming an alliance with the Congress in the state elections as they were unsure of its performance and wanted to have a larger share of seats.

The results, however, have given a signal to all the three stakeholders that they would need to come together if they want to ensure a decisive win in 2019.

The alliance of former Congress chief minister Ajit Jogi's Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) managed to win to seven seats in Chhattisgarh with a vote share of almost 11 per cent. This difference in 2019 elections could prove vital to defeat the BJP that would be seeking vote for brand Modi that still remains popular and can swing election results through sheer oratory.

In Madhya Pradesh, the need for a coalition seems more urgent as both the BJP and Congress secured almost same vote share of 41 per cent. Though, BSP's vote share slid down by 1.6 per cent as compared to 2013, it still got 4.7 per cent votes. The SP too secured 1.1 per cent vote share. The two parties together can play an important role to counter PM Modi's popularity that had given a huge mandate of 26 out 29 seats to the BJP in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

In Rajasthan, where the results are not so overwhelming for the Congress with a marginal vote difference of 0.5 per cent and 100 odd seats in its kitty, it seems to be in urgent need to stitch a coalition as PM Modi continues to be a popular face. The BSP here won 6 seats (up by three seats) with a vote share of 4 per cent and Rashtriya Loktantrik party (RLTP) 3 seats with 2.5 per cent vote share.

However, the results in favour of the Congress are expected to make the BSP and SP more reasonable in seeking seat share in states where they emerged as a force to reckon with. In addition, the results also warrant that Congress be more accommodative, considering its past record.

Reasonable Step

The results in favour of the Congress are expected to make the BSP and SP more reasonable in seeking seat share in states where they emerged as a force to reckon with.