POST MORTEM - ASSEMBLY RESULTS :2008

1. Too clever by half - Uma Bharti played smart alec by filing nomination at the last moment.In a countermove ,the BJP killed two birds with one stone - by pitting the recalcicrant Akhand Pratap Singh ( Ex -Congressman ) against her and also ensuring that both Uma and he lose- by secretly asking committed supporters to vote for the Congress instead.( No rationalistic argument can otherwise explain the official BJP nominee losing his deposit )
2.The dirty tricks department of the BJP in Madhya Pradesh may have got away the second time out ( firstly while ousting Uma and now conspiring against her in Tikamgarh ) but it may not be the third lime lucky.The forthcoming Lok Sabha elections will rebound on BJP and Uma stands to gain (as will Congress). On her part , Uma should redouble her efforts ( as she most likely will ) and for all you know she may go the Mayawati way over a period of time.
3. The BJP organisation has sent a clear signal to all the dissidents that any such activity will result in decimation - viz. Sunil Nayak , Akhand Pratap Singh, Gauri Shankar Shejwar .
4.The BJP has made it very clear that the party is supereme - any leader showing
individualistic traits at the cost of grassroot workers has been shown his/her place
( Viz. Kusum Mehdele, Himmat Kothari, kailash Chawla )
5. That there was anti -incumbency is clear by the reduced vote percentage of BJP- in particular of the unpopular ministers who won by slender margins.
6.It would be incorrect to say that BJSP made no difference - though it may not have won too many seats - all the estranged votes of BJP fell into its lap (instead of mostly going to Congress) thus indirectly helping the BJP ( wherever BJP had an edge earlier ).On the other hand wherever Congress had a narrow edge BJSP prevented BJP from reversing the trend by firther cutting into its votes.(In around 15-20 seats ).
7.It there was one move which paid rich dividends - it was the slew of schemes that Shivraj Singh launched for women . Whether its benefits reached the ground to the desired extent or not - the whole approach was percieved as positive by women. thus cutting sharply into the vote bank of Uma Bharti.
8.It is good that there is no coalition ( though in the long run it is a healthy sign ) since Madhya pradesh is as yet underdeveloped and it helps if one party has a clear mandate. Besides , it has become clear that even in the future - it is the home grown regional parties which will make a mark ( viz. BJSP & GGP )
9.It is healthy sign for the state's democracy that people have focused
on the state level & local issues - ignoring the rhetoric and downplaying national issues.
10. It'll not be fair to say that Pralhad Patel was redundant in these electitons- his faction ( including his brother ) may not have won any seat but they ensured a clean sweep for the Congress in Narsinghpur.