Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strategically targeted the opposition-ruled states like Kerala, Telangana, and Karnataka for his final voter outreach before the implementation of the model code of conduct. He emphasised that the people have already made up their minds to give his government another chance.
The Election Commission announced on Saturday a two-month-long poll schedule spanning seven phases and culminating in counting on June 6. The BJP enters the election season buoyed by its recent victories in the three state polls, as well as milestones like the consecration of the Ram Temple, the G20 summit hosted by India, and the passing of the women's reservation law. Additionally, the party's well-organised machinery contrasts sharply with a fragmented opposition camp, where the INDIA alliance struggles to present a unified narrative against the government, grappling with internal differences.
In the 2024 polls, there will be 96.8 crore voters, including 1.8 crore first-time voters, with a split of 49.7 crore males and 47.1 crore females. This explains the BJP's focus on policies and messaging aimed at women, youth, and first-time voters. Modi maintains that there are only four castes in the country—women, youth, poor, and farmers. This is aimed at countering the opposition, with the Congress-led INDIA bloc promising to fight the election on the plank of social justice.
In order to counter the Congress’s strategy of giving out guarantees for various groups, especially women and youth, the BJP’s slogan is centred on “Modi’s guarantee”, which comes with a promise of delivery. The BJP is also using the slogan ‘Modi ka parivar’ (Modi’s family) to include the 140 crore population in an attempt to target the alleged family-oriented politics in the opposition parties.
The 2024 election is set to be a contest between competing ideologies that both sides are trying to hard sell to people.
The BJP may be ahead in the game of perception—various opinion polls have given an absolute majority to the ruling party—but it has several challenges, including managing the anti-incumbency against its sitting MPs, the economic distress leading to price rises and unemployment, and strong opposition in certain pockets.
The BJP has been able to cobble up a bigger alliance than the INDIA grouping, but given the nature of elections in India, it will face tough battles in many states as it has set an ambitious target of winning over 400 seats.
