Future of regional parties looks hopeful amid national BJP wave

Assembly Election results in Haryana and Maharasthra have shown that there is still some hope left for regional parties in electoral politics of India. 

While BJP continues to dominate the political landscape of the country, Sharad Pawar and Dushyant Chautala have managed to make inroads. 
 
Chautala’s Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), despite divisions within his family, has firmly grabbed the reins of Jat politics and sentiments in districts which are their traditional strongholds.

While the Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar was the last man standing who did not give up even in the face of the mass exodus from NCP-Congress to Shiv Sena and BJP. 

In Haryana, the BJP won 40 seats, with the main opposition Congress party cornering 31 seats. The state has a 90-member assembly, meaning either party will need an ally to form a government.

Jannayak Janata Party, a regional party that has emerged a likely kingmaker in the state with 10 seats, has not announced who it will side with.

"The keys to the Haryana assembly will be with the Jannayak Janta Party," party leader Dushyant Chautala told reporters on Thursday.

The results for 286 Assembly constituencies of Maharashtra were declared on Thursday with the BJP securing a total of 105 seats and its alliance partner Shiv Sena, 56 seats. 

As per the Election Commission, BJP secured 105 seats, Shiv Sena (56), Congress (44) and the Nationalist Congress Party (54). 

While Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi won 3 seats, the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Prahar Janshakti Party and Samajwadi Party won 2 seats each.

One seat each was bagged by Sawbhimani Pakasha, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, Peasants and Workers Party of India, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Krantikari Shetkari Party, Jan Surajya Shakti and Communist Party of India (Marxist).

BJP-Shiv Sena alliance won an absolute majority in the Maharashtra assembly polls.

(With inputs from agencies)