NEW DELHI: emergence of a new regional force in U.P, represented by Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samagwadi Party and Kanshi Ram’s Bahujan Samaj Party and setbacks to both Congress(I) and BJP are the major features of the recently held elections to assemblies in India.

Midterm elections were brought about by the Indian government’s action of dismissal of BJP controlled assemblies in U.P, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. An assembly was formed for the first Lime in Delhi necessitating the maiden election there. In Mizoram, the poll was held because the state government had been dismissed there owning to political instability. Assemblies in the first four states were dismissed in the aftermath of demolition of Babri mosque in U.P. on December 6 last year. ‘There was a virtual race between the BJP and the Congress (I) to capitalize on Hindu fundamentalism.

Final results in U.P. are: Total seats: 425, poll held to 422 seats, results declared: 421 seats, BJP 176, Samaj Wadi Bahujan Samray Party combine 176, Congress (1) 28, Janata Dal 27, CP13.

CPM 1, Janata Party 1, Independents 9, Results awaited 1.

The SPBSP combine leader Mulayam Singh Yadav has staked claim to form government in U.P. with the help of likeminded parties. The BJP too want to form government there. The BJP won a big majority in the 70member Delhi assembly and its leader Madan Lal Khurana is all set to form government in India’s capital, The party got 48 seats with Congress being poor second with 14 seats. In Himachal Pradesh, the BJP suffered a massive defeat. While the Congress(I) obtained a comfortable majority.

The ruling Congress(I) also made deep inroads in the Madhya Pradesh bastion of the BJP where early indications showed that the Congress(I) was racing towards emerging as the single largest party, if not in absolute majority, leaving the BJP in the second place.

Rajasthan sent a hung Assembly where no party had a majority of seats. However, the BJP with 93 seats was the largest single party. Its leader Bhairon Singh Sekhawat has stated claim to form govern ment in Rajasthan.

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 3, 1993