In the wake of the humiliating setback in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party has initiated an in-depth investigation to understand the factors behind its poor performance in Uttar Pradesh.
Although the official report from the special squad of BJP officials has yet to be submitted, preliminary findings indicate that internal conflicts played a critical role in the party’s downfall.
The investigation reveals that in several constituencies, the battle was more intense between BJP’s own Lok Sabha candidates, Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and party officials than against the opposition.
“This internal ‘war’ has been identified as a key factor contributing to the party’s failure to achieve its target of winning 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh,” a senior party leader said adding: “Additionally, the BJP experienced a loss of over 8 per cent of its core vote bank, particularly among non-Yadav backward castes.”
The BJP, which has lost nearly half the seats it held in the 2019 elections, is experiencing considerable internal turmoil. In response, the party has mobilised its organisational machinery, forming 40 teams of office-bearers to visit each of the 80 parliamentary constituencies to assess the ground realities. These teams are tasked with identifying the specific reasons for the defeat in each area.
Sources close to the investigation reveal a prevalent “cold war” between the candidates, regional MLAs, and local party officials. Each group is pointing fingers at the others for the electoral loss. Local organisation officials cite infighting among MPs and MLAs, an anti-MP sentiment among the public, issues related to the Constitution and reservation policies, and the laxity of ground workers as primary reasons for the defeat.
Another significant issue uncovered is discrepancies in the voter lists. Reports indicate that the names of a substantial number of BJP supporters were deleted from the voters’ lists. Allegations were made against booth level officers (BLOs) for these irregularities, which further hindered the party’s performance.
Local officials are facing criticism for their alleged role in the party’s defeat. Accusations include deliberate discrepancies and negligence, which have purportedly diminished their influence among the public. In many areas, it was noted that due to the arbitrariness of the officials, the public’s trust in the BJP waned, leading to their rejection at the polls.
“As the BJP continues its post-mortem of the election results, the findings of these investigations are expected to lead to significant internal changes. The party’s focus will likely shift to addressing the internal conflicts and restoring the trust of its core voter base to regain its standing in future elections,” the leader said.
