These were the first regional elections in the state of Maharashtra since the crucial parliamentary elections earlier this year in which Modi returned for historical third term but lost his majority, so he had to depend on regional allies to form a government.
Maharashtra was one of the states where the BJP failed, with opposition parties winning two-thirds of the seats in parliament.
Modi’s party currently runs the incumbent government in Maharashtra along with splinter factions of two regional parties, the Shiv Sena and the National Congress Party (NCP).
Political analysts say the BJP’s retention of the state will give a much-needed boost to the party, which also won regional elections in the northern state of Haryana last month.
“This result caught us by surprise. We knew we would win, but we never expected such a stunning result,” BJP spokesperson Praveen Darekar told reporters in Mumbai.
The result will also decide the fate of regional heavyweights, many of whom switched parties in both states overnight.
In the state of Maharashtra, Modi led his party’s campaign from the front, announcing several welfare programs, many of which targeted farmers. The state is a major agricultural belt and producer of crops such as onions, soybeans and cotton.
The opposition has also made similar promises, including a waiver of agricultural loans and financial assistance to women and senior citizens.
Critics have pointed out that the competing promises to voters will mean the new government will face a serious financial challenge to keep them or risk the wrath of voters.
In recent years, the state has experienced significant political upheavals. The BJP-led coalition remained in power after some lawmakers from the Shiv Sena and NCP defected from their parties and joined the government.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand, where seven chief ministers have ruled since the state was formed in 2000, has also seen political turmoil in recent months after Chief Minister Hemant Soren was arrested in February on corruption chargeswhich he denied.
After his release in June, externalSoren soon hit the road, trying to cash in on popular votes.
While the BJP called Soren corrupt, he alleged that the federal government was unfairly targeting the tribal chief minister.
Tribal communities make up nearly 9% of India’s population and remain one of the country’s most marginalized groups.
Like Maharashtra, Jharkhand also saw parties promising cash incentives, free electricity, jobs and health insurance.
