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Politics Yearender 2022: From BJP’s record win in Gujarat to splitsville in Maharashtra and Bihar, and a Bharat Jodo triumph

Let us take a look at the unexceptional political events that were witnessed in India in 2022

Published

3 years ago

on

politics yearender 2022

By Divyansh Thakur

With 2022 coming to an end, the Narendra Modi government has just one-and-a-half years left in its second term. That leaves hopes that 2023 will see heightened political activity with the Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra coming up with better than expected public support.

The political sphere has been full of upheavals during the last one year. Many assembly elections and bypolls were held where the states witnessed changes in regime. Some regimes changed when a party either split or chose to swap partners, like in Maharashtra and Bihar, respectively.

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No surprises in spring Assembly results

In March, the election results of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur were out. The BJP retained power in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur. The Aam Aadmi Party wiped out the opposition in Punjab and formed its first government outside Delhi. By the end of the year, new governments were formed in two more states, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. While the BJP registered a record victory in Gujarat, the tradition of changing the ruling party remained intact in Himachal Pradesh, with the Congress putting up a strong showing.

All eyes were on Uttar Pradesh as people were expecting a change, but the results surprised everyone. Under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, the BJP once again retained power in the state. The Congress’s strong pre-poll showing in Uttarakhand didn’t amount to much as Pushkar Singh Dhami returned as CM of a rampant BJP.

Mann to Mann in Punjab

The results of the Punjab Assembly elections were unexpected. The ruling Congress in Punjab had to face a humiliating defeat. The way in which the Aam Aadmi Party government was formed under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi, the same result was seen in the Punjab elections.

Bhagwant Mann swearing in as Chief Minister of Punjab.

The ruling Congress was brutally defeated here. The Aam Aadmi Party won 92 of the total 117 seats in the state and Bhagwant Mann  was sworn in as Chief Minister. The Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal were left blinking in the AAP  tsunami that smashed all regional and family loyalties in Punjab.

Read Also: Uttarakhand: Group of college girls fight each other in the middle of the road in Roorkee, video viral | WATCH

Security lapse during PM Modi’s Punjab visit

On January 5, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on his Punjab tour when some farmer protesters blocked the road in Ferozepur on which the Prime Minister’s motorcade was to pass.

PM Modi stuck was on flyover for 15-20 mins’ – Serious security lapse in PM Modi’s security: MHA takes cognisance

Because of this, the Prime Minister was stuck on a flyover for 20 minutes. The Prime Minister returned to Delhi after the incident. He neither attended any programme nor could he address his first rally in the state after two years. This was a major security lapse.

Historic victory of BJP in Gujarat, Congress in Himachal Pradesh

Results for the assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh were out in early December. The people of Himachal Pradesh voted out the ruling BJP and voted in the Congress with a majority. Some say the state alternates between the two parties in a long-standing custom.

In Gujarat, the BJP registered a historic victory by winning 157 of the 182 seats. This was the first time in the history of Gujarat that a political party has registered a huge victory.

Hijab: To wear or not to wear it

This controversy started from a government inter-college in Udupi, Karnataka. Muslim girl students were said to have violated a new government order mandating a dress code by wearing a hijab.

This saw many saffron organisations blockade Muslim institutions while the Muslim girls were no pushovers either. The case against this reached the High Court and the Supreme Court, the apex court returned a split verdict with one judge upholding the government mandate and the other supporting the right of Muslim girls to wear the hijab.

Nupur Sharma and the Prophet

Nupur Sharma, a BJP spokesperson, made a lot of headlines this year. She made a controversial comment on Prophet Muhammad during a TV debate leading to demonstrations against Nupur Sharma across the country.

Violence took place in many parts of the country. Later, Nupur Sharma had to resign due to this controversial statement and BJP suspended her from the party for 6 years.

Shiv Sena Split

Maharashtra’s Maha Vikas Aghadi government headed by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray was derailed mid-term by Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde and 28 party MLAs. They camped in Gujarat and then to Guwahati, hosted by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. 

Initially, the Thackeray faction tried to pacify them, but in the end the Shiv Sena split and Uddhav Thackeray was out of power. After this Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde formed his government with the support of the BJP. The legal battle between the two factions is still going on for the name and symbol of the party, which was one of the big surprises of 2022. The party had been cast in a monolith form by its founder Bal Thackeray, now split into factions though nephew Raj Thackeray had already struck out on his own in the patriarch’s lifetime.

Nitish glues up Mahagathbandhan again

Politics in Bihar lives true to the idiom which says 2 plus 2 need not be 4 all the time. The relations between the BJP and the JDU broke down and Nitish Kumar left the BJP and joined forces with old ally Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD.

In a single move, Nitish took the oath of the post of CM again by dissolving the entire cabinet and forming a grand alliance, pushing his ally BJP to the opposition. In Nitish’s new cabinet, Tejashwi Yadav returned as Deputy CM and his elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav became a cabinet minister.

The unpopular front

The government banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) in September and arrested more than 100 active members. The organisation was banned for allegedly being involved in terrorist activities.

According to a notification issued by the Home Ministry, the Central Government was apprehensive that the PFI and its affiliates have been involved in destructive acts affecting public order, undermining the constitutional framework of the country and terror-based governance is being encouraged. Also trying to implement it. PFI was formed on November 22, 2006 in Kozhikode, Kerala.

Beating Nitish at his own game but this time in Manipur

In Manipur this year, the Janata Dal United, the party of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, suffered a severe blow.

Five JDU MLAs switched sides and joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). K Meghjit Singh, Secretary of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, issued a statement in this regard. Significantly, JDU had won 6 of the 38 seats in the Assembly elections held in March this year.

A non-Gandhi Congress chief

2022’s signal achievement for the Congress was an open election for its president. Mallikarjun Kharge became the first non-Gandhi president of the party after 24 years and after Sitaram Kesri.

Mallikarjun Kharge defeated Shashi Tharoor by a huge margin. Kharge got a total 7,897 votes while Shashi Tharoor won 1,072 votes. Many will dispute how Kharge, a Gandhi family loyalist, can be seen as an independent leader. Kharge’s newfound enthusiasm was seen in the Gujarat campaign where his quote on Ravan was misrepresented to the people by the BJP and ended up nearly decimating the Congress performance there.

Bharat Jodo Yatra

Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra made a lot of headlines this year. Initially dismissed by both the media and the BJP, the increasing numbers joining the yatra made both of them sit up and take note. Such a padayatra is taking place in Indian politics after a long time. This journey started from Kanyakumari on September 7, 2022. Covering a distance of 3,570 km in 150 days, the journey will end in Srinagar.

Opposition unity which will be needed for the 2024 campaign was fractious when the yatra wound its way through Kerala. The CPI(M) which runs the Kerala government was quick to point out the yatra was not taking UP and Gujarat seriously and was hurting Opposition unity by hurting the CPI(M). But the yatra persevered, Rahul Gandhi grew a longish beard a la Forrest Gump but unlike Forrest, the man’s resolve grew with each step. Snaking through the South, the Vindhyas and into the Hindi belt to a grand entry into Delhi. But like Nizamuddin  Auliya’s message to Muhammad bin Tughlaq: Hanuz Dilli Dur Ast. The yatra’s fine and grand, but votes will tilt the scales in 2024.

Uttarakhand: Group of college girls fight each other in the middle of the road in Roorkee, video viral | WATCH

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Congress Dismisses Karnataka Leadership Transition Rumors After Six-Hour Delhi Meet

The Congress party has rejected ongoing rumors regarding a leadership change or a rotating Chief Minister formula in Karnataka, stating that a recent six-hour meeting in Delhi focused strictly on the upcoming Rajya Sabha and MLC elections.

Published

9 hours ago

on

May 26, 2026

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The Congress party has strongly downplayed the intense political buzz surrounding a potential leadership transition or a change in the Chief Minister’s post in Karnataka. Following a marathon six-hour meeting with the state’s top leadership in New Delhi, the party explicitly rejected the ongoing speculation, labeling it as having “no reality.”

A brief statement issued to the media after the high-level meeting advised against spreading rumors, clarifying that the discussions were entirely centered on upcoming electoral strategies rather than structural changes within the state government. The party stated that the deliberations solely revolved around the state’s three vacant Rajya Sabha seats and the upcoming Member of Legislative Council (MLC) elections.

Rajya Sabha and MLC Polls Take Center Stage

The high-stakes meeting was attended by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi, and party General Secretary KC Venugopal, alongside Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

Briefing the media post-meeting, KC Venugopal stated that conversations were strictly confined to the Rajya Sabha and MLC elections, emphasizing that there is no truth to any other political speculation. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also confirmed that the agenda of a potential cabinet expansion or a leadership shift did not come up during the six-hour-long discussion.

Background of the Power Struggle

The question of leadership in Karnataka has remained a recurring theme for over a year. Supporters of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have consistently maintained that the central leadership promised a rotating Chief Ministership arrangement when the government was formed after the 2023 assembly elections.

Speculation had intensified recently as the ruling government faced local anti-incumbency pressures alongside renewed political activity from the opposition bench. Some internal reports had even indicated a push from within certain sections of the high command, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, for a leadership revamp.

Balancing Caste Equations and Party Structure

The central leadership has navigated the situation cautiously to maintain political stability. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, 80, commands a powerful “Ahinda” support base—a coalition comprising minority communities, backward classes, and Dalits. This social alliance was crucial in helping the party navigate the traditional Vokkaliga and Lingayat caste dynamics during the 2023 elections.

Although the rotation issue had previously gained significant momentum when the government completed two years in office, the party high command had chosen to maintain the status quo to avoid any adverse electoral impact in neighboring assembly elections, such as in Tamil Nadu. With those elections concluded, supporters of the 64-year-old Deputy Chief Minister had expressed optimism for a transition. Shivakumar currently holds the dual responsibility of being the Deputy Chief Minister as well as the state Congress chief, signaling his critical organizational value to the party. However, for the time being, the party high command has firmly signaled that the current leadership structure will remain unchanged.

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Congress high command steps in to resolve Karnataka leadership impasse with crucial Delhi meeting

The Congress leadership, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, is holding a vital meeting in Delhi with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to find a definitive solution to the state’s prolonged leadership impasse.

Published

19 hours ago

on

May 26, 2026

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The top leadership of the Congress party is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting at its headquarters in the national capital today morning to address the long-standing leadership dispute in Karnataka. Senior leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Rahul Gandhi, will lead the discussions aimed at resolving the continuous friction between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

The ongoing power struggle over the state’s top position has persisted since the party’s electoral victory in 2023. For the current session, only Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been called to join the discussions in Delhi. When questioned about the agenda by reporters, the Chief Minister stated that he was unaware of the specific subjects to be discussed, noting that political speculation is inevitable.

Background of the internal division

The internal friction intensified significantly in November 2025 when the state government completed its two-and-a-half-year mark in office. Supporters of the Deputy Chief Minister pointed to a purported unacknowledged internal arrangement suggesting a rotational chief ministership split equally across the five-year term. Despite multiple prior interventions by central party leadership to manage the internal friction, a permanent resolution has remained elusive.

While Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has not been invited to this morning’s initial session, indications suggest that separate individual discussions and a potential joint meeting involving both leaders are planned as part of the broader resolution process. Observers note that several state ministers and legislators have also traveled to the national capital as the party leadership aims to settle the administrative roadmap and finalise leadership plans before the next assembly elections.

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No uniform civil code provisions will be imposed on tribals, clarifies Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured tribal communities that the proposed Uniform Civil Code will not interfere with their customs, urging them not to be misled by misinformation.

Published

1 day ago

on

May 25, 2026

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday declared that the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will not impact tribal populations in any manner. He called upon the community to stay vigilant against “conspiracies” and misinformation circulating on the subject.

Addressing the Janjati Sanskritik Samagam—a tribal conclave organized by the Janjati Suraksha Manch at the Red Fort grounds to mark the 150th birth anniversary year of Birsa Munda—Shah stated that specific provisions have been implemented in states ruled by the ruling party to exclude tribal communities from the scope of the code.

Clarification on customs and traditions

The Home Minister highlighted that a deliberate narrative has emerged suggesting the proposed legislation would strip tribal societies of their distinct culture, traditions, and customary lifestyles.

He explicitly clarified that the central government has no intention of forcing UCC regulations upon tribal or Vanvasi communities. Shah pointed out that where regional administrations have initiated the code, care has been taken by the leadership to ensure that indigenous populations remain fully outside its jurisdiction. He requested attendees to disseminate this assurance deeply into forest zones and rural villages to erase lingering apprehensions.

Focus on security and community development

Beyond the legislative framework, Shah detailed the progress made toward curbing internal security threats, stating that the nation is steadily advancing toward eradicating Naxalism entirely. He noted that violent disruptions had severely restricted progress in these belts for decades, leading to the loss of thousands of tribal lives. According to the minister, regional stability will now pave the way for accelerated development across remote hills and forests.

The address also covered constitutional rights regarding personal faith. Shah mentioned that the original framework of the Constitution grants every citizen the dignity to practice their traditional beliefs without facing coercion, temptation, or material inducement for religious conversion.

Reflecting on financial allocations, the minister criticized earlier political administrations for keeping tribal welfare funding low. He underscored that the current administration under Prime Minister Narendra Modi significantly elevated the dedicated tribal budget from a previous Rs 28,000 crore to Rs 1.54 lakh crore. Terming the vast gathering a historical movement for cultural preservation, Shah described the societal awakening as a major step toward safeguarding tribal heritage for future generations.

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