BJP’s victory in Madhya Pradesh: A winning mix of populism and strategy
New Delhi: In a political performance that showed the essence of effective governance and strategic campaigning, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a landslide victory in Madhya Pradesh. Driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unwavering guarantees and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s emotional appeal to women voters, the victory displayed a harmonious blend of populism and political acumen.
While assuming power in 2020 amid political changes, Chauhan made a series of more than 2,900 announcements. While various schemes have made an impact, the Laadli Behna initiative has emerged as a milestone. Providing monthly financial assistance of ₹1,250 to over 13 million women, Chouhan promised to increase the assistance to ₹3,000 without specifying a timeline. The move was described as a “milestone” by a senior BJP leader, garnering significant support and playing a key role in winning the elections.
Beyond Laadli Behna, Chauhan strategically addressed the concerns of diverse demographics. Initiatives such as reduction in LPG prices, cheaper electricity at ₹100 for 100 units and targeted financial assistance to women in specific communities demonstrated a comprehensive approach to welfare.
The BJP’s victory was not merely the result of populist measures; Careful election management played an important role. Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s active participation in the campaign strategy and candidate selection proved to be decisive. Early declaration of candidates, a strategy in which the BJP announced the names of candidates for seats won by the Congress in 2018 three months before the elections, demonstrated foresight and contributed significantly to their success.
The political landscape showed a stark contrast between the effective populism and strategic skills of the BJP and the alleged poor election management of the Congress. As political expert Jairam Shukla said, it became a battle between those who took advantage of the BJP’s populist schemes and those who aspired to the Congress emerging not only as a successful populist party but also as one with skilled people power. BJP’s image was also damaged. Strategist, she also became stronger in form. The Madhya Pradesh election served as a testament to the winning formula of blending populist appeal with careful political strategy.
