India’s ruling BJP concedes defeat in key election

While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had an overall strike rate of 33% (53 seats out of 160 contested) in the recently concluded Bihar elections, an IndiaSpend analysis has found that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strike rate was 45% (13 out of 29) i.e. success rate of the BJP in constituencies where Modi addressed rallies.

Grand Alliance leader Nitish Kumar will again take oath as Bihar chief minister along with a 35-member council of ministers after the Chhath festival to be celebrated in the third week of November, a JD(U) leader said.

He also defended Bhagwat’s statement on reservation, saying there was “nothing damaging” in it. It was nothing controversial. We can’t think like that.

BJP MP Hukumdev Narayan Yadav said RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s suggestion for a review of reservation was “ill- timed” and “agitated” backward castes and Dalits.

Britain is to roll out the red carpet for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a visit which it is hoped will seal billions of pounds in trade and investment deals.

Addressing a press conference after the Parliamentary Board meeting, senior BJP leader and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the party “respects the mandate given by the people”.

Jaitley said his party respects the people’s mandate in Bihar and promised to play the role of a constructive opposition to enable the new government fulfil people’s aspirations.

“Amit Shah will remain as party chief for six more years”.

The four leaders said the principal reason for the latest defeat is the way the party had been emasculated in the a year ago.

The Assocham also said that now elections are out of the way, the industry expects the Centre and state to work together for pursuing certain economic reforms like Goods and Services Tax so that the Indian economy is able to achieve higher growth for the benefit of all citizens.

“Victory and defeat are part of the democratic process”.

The state is the largest source of manpower in the country, with other social infrastructure like educational institutions.

Modi’s failure to win enough seats for his party in Bihar despite being its star campaigner indicates a waning of his popularity, prompting senior leaders to ask for accountability.