The reasons for BJP's loss in Faizabad II VYGR.

The BJP suffered a defeat in Faizabad, the constituency that houses the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, in Uttar Pradesh.

The party’s performance in UP, their stronghold for several years, has been underwhelming overall. But the defeat in Faizabad is shocking because Ayodhya and the Ram Mandir were central to BJP’s attempt for a potential third term.

Photo: UP result

The much-disputed issue of Ram Mandir has been at the fulcrum of BJP’s politics since the 1990s. After a prolonged struggle, the Pran Prathishtha of Ram Mandir finally took place on Jan 22, 2024. The hurried inauguration ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections, was intended to significantly boost BJP’s influence in the state. However, BJP candidate Lallu Singh’s defeat to the Samajwadi Party’s Awadhesh Prasad defied all predictions.

Significant events that might've led to this outcome:

The perception around the construction of the Ram Mandir was development-oriented but the ground reality happened to be different. The locals of Faizabad seemed to have developed resentment against some of the administrative decisions made by the state. Road-widening work had been done to create several routes to the temple, making the conveyance favourable for tourists and pilgrims. In the process, around 4,000 shops were either demolished or displaced. The remuneration was either not offered at all or was too low. Local families who have lived in the region for generations witnessed the demolition of their houses along the 13-kilometre stretch of Ayodhya’s main road, the Ram Path.

Demolition of houses in Ayodhya
_{Demolition for Ram Path.}

Further, the local authority has set aside 150 acres of land for the development of an Aerocity. The land has been acquired from six villages in the district, affecting 12,000-15,000 people.

Other factors that might’ve affected the voters’ decisions were:

surging unemployment,
rising inflation
the paper leaks in government examinations.
the administration’s failure to address local grievances has put them in an unfavourable spot.

Samajwadi Party’s winning candidate, 79-year-old, Awadhesh Prasad promised to resettle those uprooted from their residences. Akhilesh Yadav's decision to field a Dalit candidate from Faizabad's general seat not only benefited him but also marked a significant victory as they defeated a two-time MP.

In conclusion, the temple may have fulfilled a long-standing desire for many locals, but the cost of their collateral losses was too high. The overall 2024 Election Result has proved that local issues have an instrumental role to play in electoral outcomes and the functioning of a democracy.

Inputs: Agencies

Image Source: Multiple Agencies