New Delhi: bjp is seeking to unseat the opposition in West Bengal, one of its few remaining strongholds, while its rivals hope to hold the line in bastions in eastern and southern India, with results set to be determined in five parliamentary polls – Bengal, tamil naduAssam, Kerala and pondicherry – designed to provide a sense of the broader political mood in the country.The election results in areas concentrated in southern and eastern India will have repercussions across the country as, in addition to the BJP’s confrontation with its rivals, there will also be struggles within the opposition. The outcome is likely to have serious repercussions for the opposition Hindu bloc as the Congress party’s lukewarm approach to partnership with the DMK and ongoing feud with the TMC, in contrast to Mamata’s positive vibe among other allies such as the Samajwadi Party, JMM and RJD, has ruffled feathers.On Monday, the fate of two regional giants – DMK (TN) and TMC (Bengal) – who are also key members of the anti-BJP alliance, hung in the balance.The DMK, led by MK Stalin, was thought to be safe in its southern stronghold of TN until a surprise attack by superstar Vijay’s newcomer TVK made the mandate uncertain. While the DMK believes that Vijay has slashed the AIADMK’s votes, which should make its task easier, some are skeptical about how “silent” women make their choices.This surge in demographic shift towards the new party may severely test the DMK. Without Vijay’s entry, the DMK is likely to repeat its Lok Sabha sweep against the post-Jayalalithaa AIADMK.But the result that gets the most attention is the Bengals. The long-running campaign of the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hopes to expand its national footprint by conquering new territories it has long dreamed of. Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee has launched an aggressive campaign to counter the BJP’s accusations, putting her famous resilience and grassroots connections to the test. Exit polls gave mixed verdicts in favor of the two parties, sparking confusion over the fate of Bengal’s elections.A victory for the BJP in Bengal would be one of its most important parliamentary victories. The state is sending its third largest contingent of MPs to LS, which will be a big plus for the Center Party in the 2029 LS polls.For Congress, Kerala could end its victory drought. Exit polls predicted that the Congress would defeat the ruling Left Front. If the left fails, it will be the first time since 1977 that there will be no government. But Congress’s current defeat – its third consecutive defeat in a state otherwise known for toppling the ruling party – will deal a heavy blow to an already weakened national party.Exit polls were almost unanimous in predicting a third consecutive victory for the BJP in Assam, the only state with a government in this round of polls. It would be a major feat for the BJP, which emerged out of nowhere to win a majority in the state in 2016, defeating the Congress and has since sidelined the once-dominant party into a supporting role through a campaign of religious polarization.However, this fascinating rivalry in Bengal is destined to overshadow the battles in other states. The state’s cultural roots and personality have always been core to the BJP’s identity, but its status as an impenetrable “secular” bastion has been a sore spot for the party. A victory now would taste extra sweet and prove that the agenda under Modi continues to resonate.On the contrary, if Mamata manages to fend off the BJP’s challenge, she will enhance her status as one of the few grassroots opposition leaders capable of blunting the fiercest saffron attack in an election held in the shadow of the SIR. A fourth consecutive win, three of which came when the BJP was in power at the centre, would boost her credentials in the opposition camp.Pondicherry Polytechnic is another assembly mired in controversy and the political impact of the outcome is likely to be limited.
