Washington: While US officials refrained from comment on Aam Aadmi Party's massive victory in Delhi elections, the New York Times saw "A Defeat for Prime Minister Modi" in the results.
"Fresh from the diplomatic high of a successful summit meeting with President Obama, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been brought down to earth by domestic politics," the influential US daily said in an editorial.
"Ordinarily, elections in New Delhi would not draw international attention," the Times said.
But since sweeping to power last year with the biggest national election victory in three decades, Modi and his BJP have generated "an aura of invincibility" winning a succession of other state elections, it said.
"The election won't affect Modi's hold on the prime minister's office and the federal government," the Times said. "But it will increase the enormous pressure to deliver on his economic and governance promises even while making that harder."
Some Indian analysts also saw the defeat as a rejection of the anti-minority biases and violence spurred on by extremist allies of Modi's Hindu national party, it noted.
"After imploring Americans, Japanese and Chinese, as well as Indians, to believe in his vision, it is a good bet that no Indian federal budget will be more scrutinized for what it may, or may not, deliver on building infrastructure, reforming taxes and making a tangled, stratified system more efficient than the one Mr. Modi is expected to make public by the end of the month," the Times said.
Many other major US newspapers like the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal chose to carry an Associated Press story about "Upstart party wins big in India's capital, in blow for Modi."
"While the results from last weekend's elections will not have any bearing on the structure of the federal government, they sent a clear message to Modi that he was not invincible," it said.
"They were also an indication of voters' frustration with endemic corruption," AP said.
Analysts, it noted viewed "the scale of the defeat of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party was a wake-up call for the government."
The State Department spokesperson declined comment on the Delhi elections calling it "an internal matter for the people and the Government of India."
"We don't engage in endorsing individual political candidates, so I would refer you to the Government of India and the people of India," Jen Psaki told reporters Tuesday in response to a question.
Obama's visit to India and the Delhi elections were two "separate things," she said.
"As it relates to our relationship or partnership or the President's visit, as you know, we certainly see our relationship with India as one that is growing, that has great potential," Psaki said.
That is reflected by the fact that the Secretary of State John Kerry and the President of the United States both visited India within the first month of this year, she said.
"So that speaks for itself, but I don't have any particular comment or analysis on the election results."
(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)
Comments
| Quick linksNews
National
International
Regional
Politics
Education & Career
Business
Science & Technology
Health
Views & Analysis
The Funny Side
© 2012 Awaz Multimedia & Publications. All rights reserved.
AAP tsunami wrecks BJP, Congress; others mock at Modi
In one of the most stunning comebacks in Indian political history, Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Tuesday scored a landslide victory in Delhi, delivering to the BJP its first defeat since its historic Lok Sabha triumph and reducing the Congress, which ruled the capital for 15 years till 2013, to a virtual. . ... More
Also Read: With AAP, Trilokpuri seeks 'communal-free' environment
Asifa Khan, the Muslim woman face of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), after the Delhi election results were declared Tuesday defended prime minister Narendra Modi saying people like Sakshi Maharaj were responsible for the party's humiliating defeat..... More
Also Read: Modi's 'I, me, myself' style has hurt BJP
Kiran Bedi, Chief Ministerial candidate of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and one of the founding members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has lost the 2015 Delhi elections, according to the election commision data available at 12:45 p.m. . ... More
Also Read: We've taught BJP a lesson, say Krishna Nagar residents
It also shows that Joint Statements, even at the highest levels, are worth little more than the paper they are written on, if not followed up by either or both sides, as has been the case with the disarmament provisions of the November 2009 statement........ More
Also Read: US media skeptic about 'breakthrough' in n-deal
Prophet Muhammad PBUH was an introvert, a loner, a shy and quiet man since the beginning. His hurt at this name calling made him return back home and lay down, with his cloak wrapped around him. Prophet Muhammad PBUH was an introvert, a loner, a shy and quiet man since the beginning. His hurt at this name calling made him return back home and lay down, with his cloak .... More
The first king to make circumambulation around the Ka'bah without security, he left US president Obama alone to offer Asr prayers
King Salman bin Abdulaziz, who is known for his contributions made to memorization of the Holy Quran, intonation and recitation, memorized the entire Quran while he was only . ... More
Also Read: King Salman leaves Obama alone to offer Asr prayers
Addressing a massive rally in Pune, the Lok Sabha member from Hyderabad indirectly referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statements offering Quran and laptops to Muslims during his election rallies in Pune before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.... More
Also Read: Muslims want reservation, not computers: Owaisi says in Pune