(Not So) Trivial Issues: Why BJP Lost In Ayodhya

Dear Reader,

Earlier in the afternoon we sent you a ground report from Ayodhya where the BJP is looking to reverse its humiliation of the Lok Sabha polls.

Abhishek Kumar, in this ground report, says "it is difficult to pinpoint a clear macro reason for the BJP’s loss."

It is things which are seemingly as inconsequential as a "roadside railing" that contributed to BJP's drubbing in the Faizabad seat.

A railing? You might ask.

Take the case of Shivam Gupta, a prasad shop owner near Hanuman Garhi. After road construction pushed his shop back, a newly installed railing now blocks devotees from reaching him. (image of the culprit 'railing' attached above)

Frustrated and feeling betrayed, Gupta took matters into his own hands, removing the railing one night. The lack of any reaction from the authorities only underscored what many locals saw as indifference or favoritism.

This looks trivial. A non-issue that couldn't have affected Lok Sabha polls. Right? But scores of such seemingly trivial grievances together fueled resentment and discontent against the BJP in Ayodhya.

A BJP worker sums it up well, "To reach my house from here, I have to cross four checkpoints set up by the police. The problems we (BJP supporters) face are only known to us. It’s another matter that we don’t say anything."

What else contributed to BJP's loss? What is the BJP doing to overcome the popular discontent among its own supporters? And most importantly, will the saffron party be able to reverse the defeat in the upcoming by-polls?

Read Abhishek's ground report from Ayodhya — After State Election Victories, BJP Sets Out To Reverse Ayodhya Humiliation In Milkipur — But All Is Not Right Yet

- Anmol N Jain

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