INDIA Bloc Ahead After 5 Phases
New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed strong confidence in the INDIA bloc’s ability to outperform the BJP in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Speaking in an exclusive interview with NDTV, Kharge highlighted the impressive victories the BJP achieved in 2014 and 2019, securing 282 and 303 seats on its own, and 336 and 353 with allies respectively. He argued that these mega wins represented a saturation point for the BJP in terms of voter support.
Kharge underscored the BJP’s inability to deliver on its promises over the past decade as a critical factor that would play against them in the forthcoming elections. He pointed out major issues like unemployment and the cost of living crisis, which he believes necessitate the removal of the BJP government to “strengthen democracy and save the Constitution.”
INDIA Bloc Leading After Five Phases
“The INDIA bloc is leading after five phases,” Kharge stated, referring to the phased approach of the 2024 elections, with the fifth phase completed and the sixth scheduled for Saturday. He attributed this lead to the BJP’s failure to fulfill its promises, which left the electorate disillusioned after ten years of waiting.
“People are grappling with large-scale inflation and widespread unemployment. Young individuals, troubled by the lack of job opportunities, are aimlessly wandering the streets,” Kharge told NDTV.
Formed in June last year, the INDIA bloc aimed to unite the opposition and mount a formidable challenge against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. The bloc includes significant parties such as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK, the Samajwadi Party, and Uddhav Thackeray’s faction of Shiv Sena. They have fielded common candidates in most constituencies.
Internal Challenges and Seat Sharing
Despite the broad coalition, internal disagreements over seat sharing have led to ‘friendly contests’ in certain areas, notably against the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kerala. Some analysts believe these internal fractures could weaken the bloc’s chances against the BJP. Nevertheless, Kharge remains confident, asserting, “The opposition is on the winning side, and the BJP is on the decline.”
To successfully defeat the BJP, Kharge outlined two critical strategies: maintaining and expanding the opposition’s dominance in the southern states and diminishing the BJP’s stronghold in the Hindi heartland.
Southern States: A Key Battleground
The southern states—Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Puducherry—are pivotal as they contribute 130 MPs to the Lok Sabha. In the 2019 elections, the BJP faced significant setbacks in these regions, winning only a handful of seats in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh, and just four out of 17 in Telangana. Their major victory was in Karnataka, where they secured 25 of 28 seats. Kharge emphasized the need for an even stronger performance in these areas to counter the BJP’s influence.
Hindi Heartland: A Crucial Test
The Hindi-speaking states—Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand—are crucial battlegrounds, as they collectively hold 226 seats. In 2019, the BJP won an overwhelming 204 seats in these states, and 191 in 2014. Kharge is optimistic about the INDIA bloc’s prospects in these regions, suggesting that the BJP has already reached its peak performance and will struggle to maintain those numbers.
“We have a lead in every state,” Kharge asserted, predicting declines for the BJP. “They have maximized their potential, and now they won’t get more than that. Where we lost previously, we have made significant gains.”
Specific State Prospects
Kharge expressed particular optimism about the Congress’s chances in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP won 53 out of 54 seats in the last election. “In Rajasthan, we will do well. This time, we will not be zero. We will also secure seats in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh,” he said.
In Maharashtra, where the Congress is in alliance with Thackeray’s Shiv Sena group and Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party, Kharge anticipates a dramatic improvement from the previous single-seat victory to at least thirty seats.
“We will achieve good results in Karnataka as well,” Kharge added, setting a target of winning 50 percent of the seats.
Overall Outlook and Prime Ministerial Candidate
Looking at the broader picture, Kharge is confident that the trend favors the INDIA bloc, which he believes will prevent the BJP from returning to power. While he refrained from specifying an exact number of seats, he suggested the bloc could secure anywhere from 273 to 290 seats.
On the issue of a prime ministerial candidate, Kharge stated that it is premature to make such a decision at this stage. The BJP has pointed out the lack of a clear candidate as a weakness, but Kharge dismissed this, saying, “The alliance will decide.”
Using a metaphor, he explained, “If we have not given birth to a child, then how can I tell the size of the head?” This indicates that the decision on a prime ministerial candidate will be made collectively by the alliance once the election results are clear.
Conclusion
In summary, Mallikarjun Kharge remains resolute in his belief that the INDIA bloc will emerge victorious in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He points to the BJP’s unfulfilled promises and the resulting public discontent as key reasons for the anticipated shift in voter sentiment. With strategic focus on maintaining dominance in the southern states and reducing the BJP’s advantage in the Hindi heartland, the INDIA bloc is gearing up for a strong electoral performance. The alliance’s internal challenges, while significant, are viewed as manageable in the broader context of their shared goal to oust the BJP. The ultimate decision on leadership will be made collaboratively, reflecting the unity and collective strength of the INDIA bloc.