Narendra Modi Claims 'First-Ever Pro Incumbency Wave': Is the PM Factually Right Or is It Mere Hype?
With PM Narendra Modi claiming pro-incumbency wave for the BJP in the Lok Sabha Elections 2019 and stating that this is the first time in independent India that something like this has happened, the reality is far more different.
New Delhi, April 27: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi claiming pro-incumbency wave for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Lok Sabha Elections 2019 and stating that this is the first time in independent India that something like this has happened, the reality is far more different.
Looking at the history of government formations in independent India, the pro-incumbency wave was effective even during the second Lok Sabha elections in 1957 when late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was contesting for the second term and Congress's vote share increased by 2.81 per cent. With this, the number of seats of Congress also increased by seven, leading to 371 in Lok Sabha. PM Narendra Modi Defends Demonetisation, Says 'No Job Loss Due to Note Ban'.
Similarly, during the late Indira Gandhi's tenure too in 1971, when Congress gave the slogan 'Garibi Hatao' (eradicate poverty), it gained 2.91 per cent votes than last time which increased Congress party's 59 seats in the Union government.
Considering the tall claims of PM Modi at Varanasi and Mumbai on Friday to win Lok Sabha Elections with even big mandate, one significant point that can't be missed is BJP has not given tickets to 102 sitting parliamentarians this time. If analysed, 37.7 per cent (33 out of 63) parliamentarians have not received the tickets and most of them belong from the reserved category.
Not only this, the BJP has fielded more cine actors this time and relying on their popularity to sweep the polls. With more than 20 regional parties in the alliance, PM Modi and BJP's tall claims on pro-incumbency and sweeping the 17 Lok Sabha elections is certainly not going with the data. However, it would be interesting to watch the results on May 23.
(The analysis has been based on the data received from Election Commission of India's website. The opinion of the writer is personal.)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 27, 2019 09:39 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).