2024 Elections: Why Ram Mandir failed to secure clean sweep for BJP in Uttar Pradesh

India’s election results brought unexpected outcomes, with the BJP securing 240 seats, falling short of a majority. The most significant setback for the BJP was in Uttar Pradesh, a stronghold for both Modi and Yogi Adityanath.

This raises questions about what went wrong. Did the opposition, led by Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party and Rahul Gandhi of the Indian National Congress, outmaneuver the BJP by better grasping the state's intricate caste dynamics? Alternatively, could internal differences within the BJP have cost them the lead they held since 2019? The surprising results suggest a combination of strategic opposition tactics and possible internal issues within the BJP, leading to their underperformance in a critical state.