Samikhsya Bureau
Most of the prime minister aspirants from the opposition camp, including the likes of N Chandrababu Naidu and BSP chief Mayawati, suffered major setback in the 2019 polls as strong pro-incumbency wave helped BJP to storm back to power in the Centre.
In Andhra Pradesh, the TDP regime headed for a rout with Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress leading in as many as 24 out of 25 seats while TDP managed to pick up only one seat.
In Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati-led BSP was ahead in only 11 seats while its partners Samajwadi Party and RLD were ahead in eight and two seats respectively.
In contrast, the BJP, which won 71 seats in 2014, was comfortable in 57 seats giving a big setback to opposition camp. The Congress which could not finalise an alliance with the BSP-SP-RLD combine was leading only in one seat.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi was trailing in Amethi by a margin of 4,674 votes against Union Minister and BJP candidate Smriti Irani.
Another regional outfit and its maverick leader Mamata Banerjee, who also harboured high ambitions vis-à-vis the corridors of power in Delhi, could not put up an impressive show with BJP set to win at least 17 seats.
In Bihar, RJD of Lalu Prasad Yadav was heading in only two constituency with NDA constituents BJP and JD(U) likely to win 16 seats each and LJP of Ram Vilas Paswan appeared comfortable in all six seats it contested.
The opposition alliance also seemed to be heading for a big setback in Patna Sahib with Congress candidate Shatrughan Sinha trailing behind Ravi Shankar Prasad of BJP by margin of 76,404 votes.
Misha Bharti, Lalu Prasad’s daughter, however, established early leads in Patliputra constituency.
In Telangana, K Chandrasekhar Rao-led TRS though put up an impressive show but in the wake of BJP’s convincing victory at the national level will have to give up its national ambition for the time being.
In Maharshtra, NCP led by Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar also had to face the brunt of electorate as it can possibly win in only three constituencies. Mr Pawar had taken several initiatives to unite the opposition parties to build up a formidable alliance against the BJP.
In Delhi, AAP also suffered major setback.
