The results of the five state elections show that the national trend is against the BJP, and that the saffron party’s traditional base of urban voters has also rejected them, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said here on Wednesday.

Ruling out the possibility that the Ram Mandir issue will help the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he said, “The trend in the country has shown till now that people have voted only once on an emotional issue. They had already voted for them once on the issue of Ram temple. Now, people feel a sense of betrayal."

Shielding the Gandhi family, Pawar said that the country hadn't taken kindly to the personal attacks on Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. "The young generation which has seen the country's functioning for the last 10 years, haven't seen Nehru or Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have never held positions of power. Even then, when a person speaks harsh words against them from the position of the Prime Minister, people don't like it. Rahul Gandhi was insulted as 'Pappu'. This does not suit the dignity of office of the PM," he said.

Pawar urged the people to be wary of communal polarisation and said if not checked the country may have to pay a heavy price for it.

Terming the current results a clear-cut blow to the BJP, he said this was the country's message that it did not like the arrogance shown by those in power.
He also said this was the result of demonetisation — a decision which was taken without consulting any economists or experts.

"The small traders, entrepreneurs, farmers, have been hugely hit due to demonetisation. There is anger against the government for it. Another factor is the attack on institutions. The RBI Governor recently resigned. The Supreme Court judges took the unprecedented step of holding a press conference to let the country know of their concerns. Overnight, the CBI chief was made to sit at home. People see this as an attack on the independent institutions," he said.

Elaborating on the plan of an anti-BJP national front, Pawar suggested that wherever the regional parties are strong, they must be supported.

On Monday, leaders of 21 political parties agreed to work out an ‘action plan’ to effectively take on the Narendra Modi-led government ahead of the 2019 election. However, there was no representation from the SP and the BSP.

"The Congress has shown that in the Hindi belt like these three states, where there are no major regional players, it can emerge as the leader. Our position is, wherever regional forces are strong, we should stand by them," said Pawar.

When asked if this would mean that they will try to convince the BSP-SP as well, he answered in the affirmative "Why not? They are strong parties. We were in talks with them before the elections. We will again hold talks with them. Even in Maharashtra, in Vidarbha, the BSP is strong in some places. We will have to admit that," he said.