<p>The talk of AIADMK, Trinamool Congress and Biju Janata Dal forming a block in Lok Sabha and possibly bidding for the post of the Leader of the Opposition is a testimony to the strength the three regional satraps who head them have come to gain leading their respective parties to landslide victories in the polls. <br /><br />The three – J Jayalalitha of the AIADMK, Mamata Banerjee of the TMC and Naveen Patnaik of the BJD – not just prevented the nationwide surge of the Narendra Modi-led BJP in their states of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Odisha but decimated the opposition in their respective states (it should, however, be noted that the BJP does not have strong base in any of these states.)<br /><br />Spectacular performances of the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal or Odisha resulted in the massive routing the formidable opposition parties, especially in the first two states. <br /><br />The three CMs have also ensured that it will take quite a while for their opponents to regroup and revive their bases. <br /><br />The drubbing that the Left Front received from the TMC has been one of the most appalling performances in the recent electoral history. <br /><br />A combine which ruled the eastern state for 34 unbroken years and has well-oiled party machinery in every village in West Bengal, got reduced to almost a rubble, winning a mere two seats (same as in Tripura but less than five it got in Kerala) out of 48 in the state.<br /><br /> The Left vote share dropped steadily from 43 per cent in the 2009 LS polls to a little over 29.6 this election, (CPI(M) from 33.1 to 22.7 per cent). <br /><br />As it lay amid the ruins, the CPI(M) recorded its worst electoral performance since its formation in 1964 in the state. If the southward slide continues, it may lose its recognition as a national party. <br /><br />The story of the CPI(M) is not the decline, not even in its fall but the beginning of a possible withering away of the party unless the usually lethargic aging leadership takes note and quickly initiate steps to rebuild the once impregnable fortress. <br /><br />This, if at all the party has to make a match of the 2016 Assembly polls in the state. As its supporters deserted the Left, its Hindu voters are known to have backed the BJP and Muslim followers, the Trinamool. <br /><br />Its influence steadily waning, the Left wilted, caught between the saffron gale and an unstoppable Mamata.<br /><br />For the relentless campaigner Mamata, it was a sweet reversal of fortunes which took her a decade to achieve. <br /><br />The firebrand leader was the lone MP in 2004 against the massive 35 seats of the LF; she reversed it by scoring 34 this time reducing the CPI(M) to just two while others of the Left group did not trouble the statisticians. <br /><br />As Mamata’s staggering victory gave her party 39.3 per cent of votes, up from 31.21 of 2009, TMC became the fourth largest party in the current LS.<br /><br />However, BJP’s rise is significant in the state. <br /><br />From being a fledgling outfit, it won two seats and secured an impressive 17 per cent votes, up from 6.4 of 2009. <br /><br />The party will now look at next year’s Kolkata municipal council polls and after that, wants to make a mark in the Assembly elections. <br /><br />Anniversary gift<br /><br />There could have been no better gift for AIADMK supremo on the third anniversary of her equally stunning 2011 Assembly polls performance than the complete sweep.</p>.<p>By bagging all but two of the 39 seats, the regional outfit has not only turned out the best performance for any party in the state in an LS poll (the last was Congress securing 31 seats in 1961) but also placed itself comfortably both in the LS and in Tamil Nadu Assembly, something which was evading it all these decades. <br /><br />Having performed badly in the 2011 Assembly polls, the scam-hit DMK has repeated that show now also.<br /><br /> Like the Left, the battle-scarred DMK, which secured 23.6 per cent votes, returned its worst performance since 1991, unlike its performances in 2004 and 2009 when it corned bulk of the seats. Scion M K Stalin faces the grim challenge of rebuilding the party.<br /><br />While Congress left the election scene badly bruised – its candidates lost deposits in 38 of 39 seats – the `rainbow alliance’ led by the BJP secured 18.5 per cent votes, won two seats and came second in six. <br /><br />Although it fell short of expectations, the grouping, if it holds together, raises the prospects of facing the 2016 Assembly polls as the third front. The BJP at least, is keen on that. <br /><br />Not many gave him even a year when then political greenhorn Naveen Patnaik delved straight into the electoral battle following death of his illustrious father, Biju, 17 years ago. <br /><br />Proving his critics wrong, Patnaik Jr has not just stayed put, he is improving in every election, this time winning an incredible 20 seats (as against 14 of 2009) out of 21 besides romping home in the Assembly polls. <br /><br />He pulverised main rival Congress, which failed to win even a single seat, checkmating erstwhile ally, the BJP, in the process. <br /><br />At 44.1 per cent and 20 seats, this is BJD’s best performance while Congress at 26 per cent, returned its worst-ever show. <br /><br />The BJP with 21.6 per cent has improved its performance in terms of vote share. <br /><br />Like Mamata, Patnaik too has earned a sweet revenge – reversed the 1980 LS poll score of Congress: 20, Biju’s Janata Party (Secular): 1!</p>.<p><a href="../content/409376/master-strategy-behind-modi039s-mega.html">Master strategy behind Modi's mega win</a><br /><br /><a href="/">Top leadership fails Congress</a></p>
<p>The talk of AIADMK, Trinamool Congress and Biju Janata Dal forming a block in Lok Sabha and possibly bidding for the post of the Leader of the Opposition is a testimony to the strength the three regional satraps who head them have come to gain leading their respective parties to landslide victories in the polls. <br /><br />The three – J Jayalalitha of the AIADMK, Mamata Banerjee of the TMC and Naveen Patnaik of the BJD – not just prevented the nationwide surge of the Narendra Modi-led BJP in their states of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Odisha but decimated the opposition in their respective states (it should, however, be noted that the BJP does not have strong base in any of these states.)<br /><br />Spectacular performances of the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal or Odisha resulted in the massive routing the formidable opposition parties, especially in the first two states. <br /><br />The three CMs have also ensured that it will take quite a while for their opponents to regroup and revive their bases. <br /><br />The drubbing that the Left Front received from the TMC has been one of the most appalling performances in the recent electoral history. <br /><br />A combine which ruled the eastern state for 34 unbroken years and has well-oiled party machinery in every village in West Bengal, got reduced to almost a rubble, winning a mere two seats (same as in Tripura but less than five it got in Kerala) out of 48 in the state.<br /><br /> The Left vote share dropped steadily from 43 per cent in the 2009 LS polls to a little over 29.6 this election, (CPI(M) from 33.1 to 22.7 per cent). <br /><br />As it lay amid the ruins, the CPI(M) recorded its worst electoral performance since its formation in 1964 in the state. If the southward slide continues, it may lose its recognition as a national party. <br /><br />The story of the CPI(M) is not the decline, not even in its fall but the beginning of a possible withering away of the party unless the usually lethargic aging leadership takes note and quickly initiate steps to rebuild the once impregnable fortress. <br /><br />This, if at all the party has to make a match of the 2016 Assembly polls in the state. As its supporters deserted the Left, its Hindu voters are known to have backed the BJP and Muslim followers, the Trinamool. <br /><br />Its influence steadily waning, the Left wilted, caught between the saffron gale and an unstoppable Mamata.<br /><br />For the relentless campaigner Mamata, it was a sweet reversal of fortunes which took her a decade to achieve. <br /><br />The firebrand leader was the lone MP in 2004 against the massive 35 seats of the LF; she reversed it by scoring 34 this time reducing the CPI(M) to just two while others of the Left group did not trouble the statisticians. <br /><br />As Mamata’s staggering victory gave her party 39.3 per cent of votes, up from 31.21 of 2009, TMC became the fourth largest party in the current LS.<br /><br />However, BJP’s rise is significant in the state. <br /><br />From being a fledgling outfit, it won two seats and secured an impressive 17 per cent votes, up from 6.4 of 2009. <br /><br />The party will now look at next year’s Kolkata municipal council polls and after that, wants to make a mark in the Assembly elections. <br /><br />Anniversary gift<br /><br />There could have been no better gift for AIADMK supremo on the third anniversary of her equally stunning 2011 Assembly polls performance than the complete sweep.</p>.<p>By bagging all but two of the 39 seats, the regional outfit has not only turned out the best performance for any party in the state in an LS poll (the last was Congress securing 31 seats in 1961) but also placed itself comfortably both in the LS and in Tamil Nadu Assembly, something which was evading it all these decades. <br /><br />Having performed badly in the 2011 Assembly polls, the scam-hit DMK has repeated that show now also.<br /><br /> Like the Left, the battle-scarred DMK, which secured 23.6 per cent votes, returned its worst performance since 1991, unlike its performances in 2004 and 2009 when it corned bulk of the seats. Scion M K Stalin faces the grim challenge of rebuilding the party.<br /><br />While Congress left the election scene badly bruised – its candidates lost deposits in 38 of 39 seats – the `rainbow alliance’ led by the BJP secured 18.5 per cent votes, won two seats and came second in six. <br /><br />Although it fell short of expectations, the grouping, if it holds together, raises the prospects of facing the 2016 Assembly polls as the third front. The BJP at least, is keen on that. <br /><br />Not many gave him even a year when then political greenhorn Naveen Patnaik delved straight into the electoral battle following death of his illustrious father, Biju, 17 years ago. <br /><br />Proving his critics wrong, Patnaik Jr has not just stayed put, he is improving in every election, this time winning an incredible 20 seats (as against 14 of 2009) out of 21 besides romping home in the Assembly polls. <br /><br />He pulverised main rival Congress, which failed to win even a single seat, checkmating erstwhile ally, the BJP, in the process. <br /><br />At 44.1 per cent and 20 seats, this is BJD’s best performance while Congress at 26 per cent, returned its worst-ever show. <br /><br />The BJP with 21.6 per cent has improved its performance in terms of vote share. <br /><br />Like Mamata, Patnaik too has earned a sweet revenge – reversed the 1980 LS poll score of Congress: 20, Biju’s Janata Party (Secular): 1!</p>.<p><a href="../content/409376/master-strategy-behind-modi039s-mega.html">Master strategy behind Modi's mega win</a><br /><br /><a href="/">Top leadership fails Congress</a></p>
