In realisation of the fact that the 2024 electoral battle will not be a cakewalk as it was in 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already gone into poll mode. Soon after the Karnataka polls, where the party lost the elections, BJP leadership didn’t waste any time in analysing its strengths and weaknesses through a series of meetings between the party’s top leadership and state-level leaders. Instead of playing its ‘Modi’ card randomly, the party has also decided to renew its links with the grass roots level to inform them of the achievements of the BJP government both in the Centre and in various states. The state leaders have also been informed that the party high command will not tolerate any indiscipline or infighting as that may mar poll prospects. In all, BJP has wholeheartedly geared up for future battles both in the Centre and in various states all across India in order to better its chances of ruling India for another five years.
The BJP is not only luring voters towards the party, but is also trying to find new electoral allies to deny the opposition any chance of gaining power. The party has already started consultations with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and H. D. Devegowda-led Kanata Dal (Secular). While alliances with TDP and JD (S) will help the party gain a foothold in the southern part of the country, an electoral understanding with SAD may help it to become the second force in Punjab behind the ruling Aam Admi Party (AAP), sending the Congress to third place. It is expected that the proposed alliance may last longer as regional forces need such electoral understanding with a national party to become relevant in state politics. For example, both TDP and JD (S) are not on strong wickets after being rejected by voters at the hustings. So, both parties are desperate to make their presence felt in the 2024 general elections. Thus, BJP is the most suitable life raft for these parties in search of a lifeline.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]On the contrary, the opposition is still in disarray and largely undecided on how to stall the BJP’s electoral juggernaut from capturing power in the Centre for the third consecutive time. Sometimes, the opposition party talks about the 1: 1 formula that was adopted during the 1989 general elections to oust the Rajiv Gandhi government. However, without giving much consideration to that formula, senior opposition leader Sharad Pawar has issued a call urging non-BJP parties to recreate the 1977 formula, when all the anti-Congress parties came together to form Janata Dal (JD) and ensured a direct fight against the Indira Gandhi-led Congress. Mixed statements regarding opposition unity have made the scenario murky, making it really challenging for the parties to take a concrete stand. In this context, the proposed opposition meet in Patna may not be able to achieve much as all its leaders are singing different tunes. Thus, it will be a miracle if the opposition puts up a united fight against BJP in the forthcoming general elections.