Mukesh Sahni said that Tejashwi Yadav had betrayed the VIP even during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
New Delhi:
One moment, which seemed innocuous at the time, could have been more critical than imagined.
Not known for their ability to form alliances or partners, Congress, as their record shows, and Tejashwi Yadav, newer to the game, failed to convince Mukesh Sahni and his VIP group to join their alliance. In fact, it was handled so badly that it led to a dramatic strike at a press conference to announce the members of the Mahagathbandhan.
The VIP switched to the NDA and ended up making a difference with an 8 seat swing, and the VIP won 4 seats. It may not have traded the winner, but if the VIP had kept the MGB, the NDA’s margin of victory would have been much smaller.
With 1.5% of the votes that the VIP party won, as an ally, it would also have propelled the MGB to a clear advantage in terms of votes.
And even in terms of seats won, it would have been an even closer result. With external support from AIMIM, BSP and the independents, it would have been:
The memorable moment of the strike only highlights the vast difference between the treatment of potential allies and the BJP’s bargaining power vis-à-vis Congress and others.
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