The ruling Bhartiya Janta Party, or BJP, has cleverly elevated the conversation to a more ambitious target of 370 seats for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, according to political strategist Prashant Kishor. In an interview with NDTV's Editor-in-Chief Sanjay Pugalia, Kishor highlighted a strategic shift in the BJP's electoral narrative.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly set the bar high, projecting that the BJP will secure 370 seats, with the broader National Democratic Alliance crossing the 400-seat mark, Kishor said. This shift, according to Kishor, reflects a strategic confidence aimed at reinforcing the party's dominant position.
Kishor's remarks coincide with the world's largest election taking place in India from April to June 1, where nearly 100 crore people are eligible to cast their votes. The elections for the 543 contested seats in the Lok Sabha require a party or coalition to secure a simple majority of 272 seats to form a government.
Despite the elevated targets, Kishor reassures that the BJP's grip on power is secure, as they are not at risk of falling below the crucial 272-seat threshold necessary to form a government.
Reflecting on past performances, Kishor pointed out that the BJP secured 303 seats in the 2019 elections, surpassing the expectations set by exit polls. He explained that the narrative shift to 370 seats is a tactic to preemptively frame the election results as a victory for the BJP, even if they fall short of this heightened goal while remaining above their previous tally.
Exit polls for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections are expected to take place after the last phase of polling on June 1, with the election results scheduled for June 4.
Kishor's analysis underscores the BJP's adeptness at managing electoral expectations and shaping public discourse, positioning themselves favourably regardless of the final seat count.
Catch all the latest updates on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections here.
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