In the recently concluded assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faced the looming spectre of anti-incumbency, posing a significant challenge to its cadre. However, the party’s leadership displayed confidence in securing victory by adopting a strategic approach.
Initially, the top echelons of the BJP were wary of the potential impact of anti-incumbency against Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s government in Madhya Pradesh. Senior party functionaries acknowledged the complexity of the electoral battle in the state and opted for a strategic approach to engage voters.
Facing initial demoralization among the cadre in Madhya Pradesh, with a sense of fatigue among ground-level workers, the leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, played a crucial role in boosting morale. Recognizing the challenges, they promptly convened an early Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting and released the first list of candidates a month ahead of their competitors, injecting renewed energy into the sagging cadre.
Sources revealed that the BJP leadership addressed issues on the ground and mobilized the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the state. The efforts of the RSS played a pivotal role in fortifying the BJP’s foundation in Madhya Pradesh, revitalizing local party workers and positioning the BJP in a more competitive stance.
In a proactive move, the BJP leadership understood the imperative of early ticket distribution, especially in seats where victory seemed slim. The party strategically fielded multiple Union ministers and MPs in the electoral fray, signaling flexibility in the state leadership.
The approach to field senior leaders, Union ministers, and MLAs aimed to convey that Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s role as Chief Minister was not set in stone. Combined with power-packed campaigning at the grassroots level, star-studded rallies, and road shows, the BJP successfully regained the trust of the people, putting the otherwise confident Congress on the defensive.
The assembly elections, held for all 230 constituencies in a single phase on November 17, witnessed the highest voter turnout in the history of Madhya Pradesh, surpassing the 2018 assembly polls by 0.59%. Since 2003, the BJP has secured victory in Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections thrice, with the Congress emerging victorious only once
