Modi magic fails as BJP fares poorly in Agra cantonment polls
For the first time, the party fielded its own candidates in the UP cantonment elections and out of eight seats, it could win only one.
The staggering defeat of the BJP in the local body elections of Agra cantonment may not appear to be a major blow, but it does indicate that the Modi wave is faltering and may not be as all-pervasive as it was being thought.
For the first time, the party fielded its own candidates in the UP cantonment elections and out of eight seats, it could win only one. 'Abki Baar, Modi Sarkaar' seemed to have lost its magic for the Agra voters, who banked on the incumbents Dr. Pankaj Mahendru and his wife Dr. Renu Mahendru despite major dissatisfaction against the duo. In fact, their BJP opponents Rakesh Goyal and Ramesh Baghel lost by huge margin forcing the party to introspect. Mahendru may go on to become the Vice-Chairman of the Agra Cantonment Board for the third time in a row.
Interestingly, seven out of the eight candidates, who won the election were independents, while two candidates fielded by the army for the first time, lost miserably gaining just 69 and 475 votes respectively, at a time when the voting percentage of the cantonment was over 70 per cent.
Modi's 'Achhe din' factor remained completely absent during the voting despite the BJP candidates drumming it home in every public meeting during the electoral campaign. The voters remained faithful to the incumbents in most cases, not caring for the fact that the BJP was fielding its candidates for the first time in UP cantonment elections.
The astonishing defeat of the party in this election may not be a signal of the way the voters will act in the Delhi polls, but these results would definitely influence the voting, however slightly it may be.
Delhi goes to poll on February 7 and it may be hard for the BJP to forget the results and move ahead in the little time that remains.
Talking to India Today, UP Samajwadi Party state secretary Raisuddin said that when Modi could not win Varanasi cantonment elections for his party, how could he hope to win in Agra, where the people vote for the person behind the symbol and not the party. He added that the candidates Modi chose lost because the people decided to go for the 'tried and tested' and did not believe in Modi's 'Abki Baar' slogans.