New Delhi (AsiaNews) The verdict is out for elections held this past Dec. 1 in four Indian states: the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reported landslide victories in three of the four (Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan e Chhattisgarh). The Congress Party (CP) assured itself victory only in New Delhi. CP's defeat is even more crushing, considering it used to govern all four states.
In Madhya Pradeshm, BJP won 168 of 230 seats; 38 went to CP and the remaining 24 to independent parties. The new chief minister will be Uma Bharati, a Hindu monk aged 43 and influential figure of the fundamentalist right wing.
BJP's victory in Rajasthan was equally overwhelming where it won 120 out of 200 seats,
against CP's 56; in Chhattisgarh victory was smaller (50 seats going to BJP, 36 to CP).
New Delhi is will remain under prior government rule, with 47 favorable seats going to CP and 20 BJP. Here, chief minister Sheila Dikshit will maintain his mandate for another 5 years.
BJP is well known for its positions favoring Hindu fundamentalism. Yet, during these elections the party preferred founding its electoral campaign on arguments linked to the development and promotion of women. National elections will be held in October 2004. (S.F.)
