Indian voters reward Modi’s BJP despite covid mishandling and a haphazard lockdown

There have been murmurs in recent weeks that the prime minister's Bhartiya Janata Party is losing its grip over Indian voters. Over the past month, elections were held in five states.

The murmurs were silenced as the results came in.

The party romped home in at least four states during the counting of votes. In Punjab, the Aam Admi Party seemed to have emerged as a strong alternative to mainstream political parties, with the year-long farm protests seeming to have worked in its favour more than for any other entity.

It's not like the party didn't face a backlash. The party was set to lose more than 50 seats in the state. It may not be enough to get it out of power. It may lose between 10 and 15 seats in the state.

The results were in line with predictions made by pollsters.

What did not matter for India’s voters

Images of mass pyres and bodies buried in river beds and flowing downstream in India's most populous state were the most significant images of the government's handling of the Pandemic. The main opposition was expected to give Modi's outfit a tough time.

The trends have been different with the saffron party on its way to a comfortable majority and retaining the state.

There was nothing bungled up Covid-19 management, a massive oxygen crisis, mass deaths, a poorly-thought-out lockdown, and economic troubles that shook the voters' confidence in the saffron party.

The Indian economy was battered by the national lock down and caused an unprecedented internal reverse-migration. Hundreds of unskilled labourers and their families walked thousands of kilometres in desperation after the lockdown was announced. Many died on these journeys.

The unemployment crisis didn't make a difference. Hundreds of students in northern India are protesting over delays in the recruitment of state-owned entities.

Political observers attribute this support to several reasons.

The lack of strong political alternatives, Modi's enduring charisma, and the power of the party's Hindu nationalist narrative are some of the things that are included.

Modi and his party will move towards the general election with fresh wind under their wings.