Narendra Modi, India’s most powerful prime minister in 30 years, is no longer invincible.
This week, Modi lost elections in three heartland states where his party, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), once enjoyed complete political domination. The defeats in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh — which together send 65 representatives to India’s parliament (Modi’s party held 62 of these seats) — are a serious warning to the man who once seemed too strong to defeat. Tuesday’s results have now left the question of his reelection wide open.
In the months leading up to the state elections, Modi made bizarre mistakes that gave the opposition space to maneuver. Just a year ago, Modi was almost certain of a second term.
The provincial elections, which are seen as the semi-finals for national elections in May 2019, have also shut down the debate about whether the Congress Party’s Rahul Gandhi is a worthy challenger to Modi.
Series of meetings are scheduled to start with a workshop of the BJP Yuva Morcha in Delhi on December 15-16, followed by the convention of party`s Mahila Morcha in Ahmedabad on December 21-22, which will be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“On January 19-20, a convention of Scheduled Castes Morcha of the party will be held in Nagpur, in which BJP President Amit Shah, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Thawarchand Gehlot would be the main speakers,” Yadav said.
The BJP Minority Cell will also hold a two-day national convention in New Delhi on January 31-February 1.
On February 2-3, a national convention of the Scheduled Tribes arm of the party would be held in Bhubaneswar and that of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) would be organised in Patna on February 15-16.
Besides, Modi will address a rally of party`s Kisan Morcha that will be held in Uttar Pradesh on February 21-22. The city is, however, yet to be decided.
