Q. How crucial are the victories in the three states in the Hindi heartland for the BJP’s planning for the 2024 general election?
J.P. Nadda: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been recognised as a credible leader throughout India. He has taken care of every section of society—the common man, women, farmers and the marginalised—through ‘Modi’s guarantees’. Across the country, the common man feels that the country is secure in his able hands. In Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the governments were facing anti-incumbency due to corruption, nepotism, deteriorating law and order and false promises to the youth. If the former had the red diary scandal, the latter was beset by the Mahadev App controversy. Paper leaks happened in both states. The youth were disgruntled, farmers felt cheated. But in Madhya Pradesh, there was pro-incumbency due to continuing development and youth and women’s empowerment. The purchasing capacity of farmers and other consumers had increased. In MP, the central government schemes reached the super-saturation stage, whereas in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, they refused to participate in central development programmes. The BJP party organisation was in a position to convert the positives as well as the anti-incumbency into votes.
Q. The BJP used a different technique this time, including bringing in heavyweight MPs to contest assembly polls. What was the strategy?
This story is from the January 01, 2024 edition of India Today.
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This story is from the January 01, 2024 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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