The BJP on Monday blamed the “anti-incumbency factor” against its chosen candidate as the core reason for the party’s lacklustre performance in the Bawana by-poll, the results of which emerged as the first bump for the “Modi juggernaut”.
Insiders admitted the irony underlining the result: the “negative image” of its candidate, former AAP MLA Ved Prakash, spoiling the show for a party which rode to victory in the municipal polls on the “politics of negativity” pitch which it used against the “AAP's brand of politics”, in general, and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's, in particular.
Review of loss
Insiders said Mr. Prakash's loss by a margin of over 24,000 votes was an embarrassment for the party, especially in the wake the BJP's recent political conquests across the country and its clean sweep of the Rajouri Garden by-poll earlier this year. A party source claimed they have already begun reviewing the loss and will report to BJP national president Amit Shah.
“Both the party's core voter base, not to mention its local cadre, seem to have been unable to digest the party's decision to field Mr. Prakash. His lack of performance during his tenure as the local legislator and image issues triggered by his switching sides a few months ago to return to the party's fold from the AAP did us in,” said a senior party leader unwilling to be quoted.
Tiwari takes responsibilty
“The party seems to have done well in most urban wards where promises for future development in their areas were well received as per our own assessment. The scenario was the opposite in rural pockets which have a different social milieu; where voters do not forgive or forget non-performers,” the leader further explained.
Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, earlier on Monday, took responsibility for the defeat stating that the causes of Mr. Prakash's defeat would be reviewed. “As the president of Delhi BJP, I accept the mandate and take responsibility for it,” Mr. Tiwari told reporters, adding that the result was against the expectations of the party.