New Delhi: In a live interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire, the well-known historian and political commentator Ramachandra Guha analyses and discusses the results of the assembly elections held in five states last month.
Was overconfidence to blame for the Congress’s defeat in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh? Did the Modi magic win the BJP three states, or did the party’s astute political handling?
Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty
Did calls for a caste census fail to work for the Congress because the BJP’s share of OBC seats increased substantially? Whilst both main parties relied on religious appeals, which one did they work for?
Were the Gandhis more successful campaigning for the Congress than its regional leaders in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan? How do we explain the BJP’s sweep of tribal seats?
Finally, what are the portents for the national elections next year? Watch the video to hear Ramachandra Guha’s answers.