Going into year number 10 will be the most challenging, as Modi seeks to repeat what only Jawaharlal Nehru could do as prime minister – bring his government back for a third consecutive term.
Attempts at ‘opposition unity’ and electoral defeats in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh have emerged as a new challenge. But the BJP is sure that it has the electoral formula to reign supreme in 2024 – a three-pillar vision of nationalism, Hindutva and a Modi-led model of governance and welfare.
A top BJP leader told News18 last week, “We have to focus on the bigger picture – how the Modi-led government with a majority has brought about a transformational change in the lives of the people and uplifted the poor.”
Modi gave the same mantra to BJP chief ministers at a meeting after the inauguration of the new Parliament building on Sunday.
The top BJP leader said the state polls should not be treated as ‘semi-finals’ ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and pointed out how the BJP failed to form government in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh or Chhattisgarh in 2018, but would soon form government in all these states. won in 2019 Lok Sabha Elections.
The BJP leader said, “When we win a state, we don’t even link it with the Lok Sabha election, which is about the people’s trust in electing Modi as the prime minister and leading the country strongly.” , not a shaky opposition coalition.” quoted above.
A 244-page booklet summarizing the nine years of the government – how PM Modi has focused on “14 priorities”, has “a sprinkling of magical intent, a touch of genuine empathy, a dash of inexhaustible risk, and pure A full measure of patriotism”.
Freebie Challenge in State Elections
One of the most formidable challenges for the BJP is the new ‘freebies’ model adopted by the Congress to woo voters in state elections – something that has brought dividends for it in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh.
The point is that we are giving benefits to the poor at the national and state level as well. When we promise something, people know that it will definitely happen. In the case of Congress, people are not so sure. We have to infuse it more in our campaign,” said a BJP leader.
This, the top leader said, could involve the BJP in “taking the message effectively to the grassroots” and early launch of its state poll campaigns for the four states to be held later this year to ensure that Is.
An example in this case is how PM Modi has started his Rajasthan tour, holding public meetings in key areas like Dausa and Bhilwara, and is now on his way to a big public meeting in Ajmer on May 31 – all this This is the stronghold of Congress leader Sachin Pilot.
In short, expect the BJP to come back strongly after the defeats in Karnataka and Himachal and after some lessons have been learned.
He said, ‘It is a fact that the Congress government in Rajasthan did not implement the farm loan waiver and the Chhattisgarh government did not give the promised unemployment allowance. The public needs to be reminded of this. In the promises of Congress in Karnataka, the entry of if and but has also been made.
However, another top BJP leader admitted that putting the ‘fiscal burden’ of such freebies on the exchequer on people “doesn’t work”.
A classic example is Karnataka where the BJP questioned the voters as to how the state would bear the burden of Rs 50,000 crore a year because of the Congress guarantee, but the people still voted for the Congress.
“Even in the state elections, there is a boil over the performance of the local MLAs. There are many reasons for the defeat of Karnataka.
‘big picture’
According to the latest government booklet, the focus for 2024 is on the ‘big picture’ of the benefits of a majority government led by Modi, which has achieved “exactly what it promised” so far.
“Even though the promises were difficult – whether it was the abrogation of Article 370, or the vaccination of one billion citizens, the ban on triple talaq, or the laying of the foundation stone of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, which will be ready next year – it has bettered its own parameters , and performed better even in extremely challenging conditions,” claims the BJP.
The BJP’s campaign for the 2024 elections is expected to have the same template – nationalism and a liberal dose of welfarism.
The nine-year booklet states, “If the ‘nation-first’ resolve is fully implemented, political discourse and policy implementation can be a match made in heaven.” Vision has taken.
Modi government says in this ‘Amrit Kaal’, everyone is a part of India’s growth story.
“The story of New India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat is one that can only be dreamed of. It’s a good thing, we’re starting to see those dreams come true. Because, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in fact, they do!” The official handbook says.
Top BJP leaders say that this is the pitch which will again get 300+ seats to BJP in 2024.