In the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, Prashant Kishor, a political strategist, has made an optimistic forecast for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He foresees a significant impact by the party in the eastern and southern states. According to Kishor, the BJP has the potential to emerge as the leading party in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which are traditionally strongholds of the opposition parties. During a recent interview with news agency PTI, Kishor projected that the BJP could secure the highest number of seats in southern and eastern India, with a substantial increase in vote share specifically in Tamil Nadu.
Kishor informed PTI that he had previously predicted that the BJP would achieve double-digit vote share in Tamil Nadu for the first time. He also mentioned that the BJP is likely to secure the first or second position in Telangana, which is significant.
Moreover, Kishor stated that the BJP is expected to be the leading party in Odisha and could potentially become the number one party in West Bengal, surprising many.
While the BJP has claimed that they will secure more than 400 seats in the 520-seat Lok Sabha in the upcoming election, Kishor expressed doubt that the party will exceed 370 seats. He pointed out that despite the BJP’s dominance in northern and western India, it may face challenges in the elections if the opposition, particularly the Congress, manages to make the BJP lose around 100 seats in these regions.
Kishor criticized Rahul Gandhi by pointing out the difference in the number of visits made by the prime minister to Tamil Nadu compared to Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, or any other opposition leader in battleground states. He emphasized that the focus should be on Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, rather than touring Manipur and Meghalaya. Kishor questioned the chances of success in such a strategy.
During a discussion about Rahul Gandhi’s reluctance to contest elections from the Amethi seat, the poll strategist expressed his opinion that winning from Wayanad would be of no benefit if he fails to secure victories in UP, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. Kishor strategically stated that letting go of the Amethi seat would only convey a negative message.