BJP Election Strategy: The journey of Lok Sabha elections 2024, which started on March 16, has reached its final stage. On March 16, the Election Commission announced the dates of the Lok Sabha elections. 6 phases of voting have been completed. Only the seventh and last phase of voting is left on June 1. The campaign for the seventh phase ended on Thursday. With this, the 75-day long Lok Sabha election campaign has also come to an end. Like the last two elections (2014 and 2019), this time too Prime Minister Narendra Modi took charge of the BJP’s election campaign. He held more than 200 rallies during this period. Gave 80 interviews. Apart from the PM, Home Minister Amit Shah also campaigned in most of the states. Let us understand how was the BJP’s election campaign in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections:-
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BJP’s confidence increased with the inauguration of Ram Mandir
BJP’s confidence reached its peak with the inauguration of Ram Mandir in January. BJP made the opposition’s boycott of the Praan Pratishtha program in Ram Mandir an issue. Later, many leaders from other parties left their parties and joined BJP by making this an issue. This helped BJP to bring the Ram Mandir issue to the center stage across the country.
Campaign started with ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’
BJP started its election campaign with ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’. ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ was also mentioned prominently in the party’s manifesto. Many BJP leaders kept talking about NDA crossing 400. Issues related to social security and poor welfare were discussed in detail in the rallies.
Then the direction of the election campaign changed
After this, BJP changed the direction of the election campaign. PM Modi made Congress’ promise of wealth redistribution a big issue. He compared the Congress manifesto to the Muslim League. After this, BJP’s election campaign became very aggressive.
Sam Pitroda’s statement on inheritance tax gave BJP an opportunity to dominate. PM Modi repeatedly mentioned the old statement of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. In this, he had talked about the first right of minorities on resources. PM Modi said that they will not let even the mangalsutra of mothers and sisters be saved. He asked whether the money earned by people’s hard work will be given to infiltrators?
Opposition raised the issue of reservation and constitution
Amidst the aggressive election campaign of PM Modi, opposition leaders started saying that BJP is talking about crossing 400 because it wants to change the constitution and end the reservation of Dalits and tribals.
BJP retaliated by raising the issue of Muslim reservation. The party said that how efforts are being made to end SC-ST reservation from educational institutions by declaring them minority institutions. Meanwhile, the High Court verdict came in West Bengal, in which the reservation of Muslim OBCs was abolished. This also gave BJP an opportunity to become aggressive.
As the campaign ended, primary issues became secondary. Low voter turnout in the initial phases also alerted the BJP. Due to this, opposition parties started claiming that the NDA will not be able to get a majority. However, now the people’s decision has been captured in the EVM. It will be known on June 4 how much truth is there in whose claim.
PM Modi made a new record
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a new record of campaigning in this Lok Sabha election. PM Modi did more than 200 rallies, events and road shows. During this, he gave 80 interviews. The PM campaigned the most in the scorching heat of May. This month the PM did 96 rallies, events and road shows. If compared to the last Lok Sabha election, then PM Modi broke his own record. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, PM Modi did 142 rallies.Â
PM’s focus was most on 4 states
During the election campaign PM Modi’s focus was on 4 states.
These states are- UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. Most of his rallies were held in these states.
Modi held 31 rallies in UP. He held 20 public meetings in Bihar. PM Modi addressed 19 rallies in Maharashtra. While 18 rallies of Modi were held in West Bengal.
There are 210 Lok Sabha seats in these states, i.e. nearly 50 percent of the seats.
Meanwhile, PM Modi also gave interviews to various media organizations. In the interview, he highlighted the achievements and work of the Modi government. During this, PM Modi cornered the opposition on various issues including reservation on the basis of religion, CAA, Ram temple in Ayodhya, removal of Article 370.
Campaigns of other top BJP leaders apart from Modi
However, Home Minister Amit Shah held more rallies in this election than PM Modi. Shah held 221 rallies, road shows and other events. During this, he also gave 118 interviews.
BJP President JP Nadda visited 23 states and 4 union territories from 2 April 2024 to 30 May 2024. During this, he campaigned on 125 seats. Held 134 meetings.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh held 101 election events. Rajnath also held 94 rallies and 7 road shows.
BJP’s expectations in Lok Sabha elections
After the conclusion of the Lok Sabha election campaign, BJP has started assessing its performance. Based on the feedback received from across the country, BJP is hopeful that Modi government is going to be formed once again. According to BJP sources, the party is expecting better performance in some states as compared to 2019. These states include Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. There are 244 Lok Sabha seats in these states.
In the last election, BJP and its allies had won 94 of these seats. Last time BJP could not open its account in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. This time PM Modi has campaigned vigorously there. BJP has also formed an alliance with regional parties in these states.
There may be losses in Maharashtra and Bihar
There is an assessment that BJP’s allies may have to suffer losses in some states. Among these states, Maharashtra and Bihar are being prominently named. Whereas, in Rajasthan and Karnataka, BJP may lose some seats as compared to 2019.
There can be a challenge in Karnataka too
In Karnataka, BJP had won 25 out of 28 seats last time. It also got the support of an independent MP, while out of 48 seats in Maharashtra, BJP contested on 25 seats, out of which it won 23 seats. In Bihar, last time BJP and its allies had won 39 out of 40 seats. Here BJP itself is hoping to repeat its previous performance. At the same time, its leaders feel that allies may suffer losses on some seats.
