'Good continuity' can be electioneering 101
Congress chances by embroiling himself in a 'Savarkar controversy', with Pune and Nashik courts summoning him in defamation cases. Playing the 'Adani card' to voters was like throwing firecrackers in the water.
In Jharkhand, Amit Shah conjuring up bogeys of tribals being overrun by 'infiltrators' and 'intruders' was a tactic that, similarly, found little takers.
Instead, good old schemes, especially those targeted at women-Mukhyamantri-Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana providing ₹1,500 a month to women between 21 and 65 years in Maharashtra, and Maiya Samman Yojana providing ₹1,000 a month to 18-50-yr women in Jharkhand-created the right gravitational forces. Ticket distribution, groundwork and 'non-abstract' campaigning won over voters the way all consumers usually are (and should be): by showcasing past performance and making believable promises with a high 'follow-upability' quotient.
BJP's individual sterling performance in the Maha Yuti makes Devendra Fadnavis a top contender for CM.
Incumbent CM Eknath Shinde and NCP chief Ajit Pawar-both who can, by mandate now, after gaining it judicially, lay claim to their legitimacy-should be okay with that arrangement. In the end, both Maharashtra and Jharkhand results show the efficacy of Electioneering 101.
