With a promise of even greater accomplishments in his third term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced his campaign for the 2024 elections from Meerut—the birthplace of the 1857 mutiny—a choice he also made in 2014 and 2019. Over the past four days, he has already addressed three major rallies and engaged in two dialogues with booth workers.
Next on his itinerary is Bihar on April 4, followed by a four-day stint in Tamil Nadu next week to bolster support for his party's candidates. Throughout his speeches, Modi has consistently highlighted the progress achieved over the last decade, portraying it as merely a prelude to the substantial work ahead. He has taken aim at dynastic politics within the opposition and emphasized his ongoing battle against corruption.
His speeches have set the contours of BJP’s election messaging at the start of the campaign.
"Modi was born not for leisure, but for hard work," the prime minister reiterated in his rallies, emphasizing that there is much more yet to be accomplished. He had already directed his ministerial colleagues to prepare a 100-day agenda, even before the announcement of the election dates.
Addressing the 90th anniversary function of the Reserve Bank of India, Modi stated, "I am preoccupied with the upcoming elections for the next 100 days, while you have ample free time. Once I assume office, a plethora of work is coming your way."
The recurring theme in Modi's speeches, highlighting the substantial tasks ahead, aims to cultivate a positive image among voters, laying the groundwork for their choices on the election day. Prominent among these objectives is the ambition to propel India to become the world's third-largest economic power, a promise reiterated by senior leaders including Home Minister Amit Shah and party chief J.P. Nadda.
In response to the opposition's focus on issues like unemployment and inflation, Modi counters by asserting that India's ascent to becoming the third-largest economic power will result in increased earnings, job opportunities, and enhanced facilities in both rural and urban areas.
As the BJP-led government had initiated action against the opposition leaders inviting criticism of political witch-hunt and vendetta, Modi accused his political opponents of saving the corrupt.
"There are two camps in this election – the honest and corrupt. We are saying ‘remove corruption’, they are saying ‘save the corrupt’,” Modi proclaimed during his rally in Uttarakhand.
The theme of Modi's crusade against corruption prominently features in the party's publicity material, evident in posters and billboards nationwide, particularly in opposition-held states.
The slogan ‘Modi Guarantee’ resonates strongly in these elections, symbolizing a commitment to completion and fulfillment. This slogan proved effective during state elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh last year.
Modi has also championed a new scheme aimed at providing free electricity through solar panels installed in households, countering promises of "free power" made by rival parties like the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress.
The prime minister has highlighted the issue of the Katchatheevu island near Tamil Nadu, slamming the Congress's decision to cede it to Sri Lanka. This narrative questions the ability of the Congress to safeguard national interests.
During his rally in Rajasthan, he invoked the magic figure of "crossing 400 on June 4th", referring to the counting day.
In addition to rallies, which serve as direct interactions between the prime minister and the voters, Modi has actively engaged with party workers, delivering pep talks and urging them to secure victories in their respective booths, recognizing the pivotal role they play in electoral outcomes, even amidst anti-incumbency sentiments.
During interactions with workers from 10 constituencies of Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday, Modi emphasized the importance of active participation on social media platforms and advocated for the creation of women-specific WhatsApp groups to facilitate discussions and enhance outreach. He underscored the value of seeking advice from veteran party workers, maintaining decorum, and persuading voters with BJP-NDA ideologies.
Apart from Modi, key campaigners from the BJP include Shah and Nadda.
Shah, addressing booth workers in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, urged them to convey the prime minister's message to every voter on the electoral roll. He reiterated Modi's resolute stance against terrorism, citing the swift retaliatory measures taken by the Indian Army following attacks in Uri and Pulwama.
In addition to achievements such as the consecration of the Ram Temple and the abrogation of Article 370, Shah highlighted the BJP's efforts in modernizing laws, reforming Parliament, and combating issues like Naxalism, terrorism, and extremism, underlining Modi's commitment to ensuring India's security.
Nadda addressed criticisms regarding inflation, stating, "India's inflation rate under BJP rule stands at only 4.3 per cent. Despite challenges posed by events such as the Covid pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, India has been hailed as a bright spot by the International Monetary Fund."
Nadda emphasized the disparity between India's inflation rate under the BJP rule and that of other countries, contrasting it with the higher rates witnessed during the UPA's tenure. He also highlighted India's robust GDP growth compared to other developed nations, further affirming the BJP's track record of economic stewardship.
