PM Modi and the BJP know that this year’s crucial state elections will set the pace for the big fight in 2024. Meanwhile, other rifts must be ironed out, including internal factional feuding and losses from former allies.
PM Narendra Modi with BJP President JP Nadda at party meeting; (Photo: Chandradeep Kumar)
TeaThe events of the past few weeks have been a testing time for the country’s ruling party, what with allegations of crony capitalism against Adani and a damning BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots. But, as always, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself led the fight, beginning with his speeches in both Houses of Parliament during the motion of thanks on the President’s address. Political analysts have focused on one line of it- “The country is watching, a lonely kit is being overshadowed (The country is watching how one man has single-handedly taken so many people)” – to gauge the possibility of the Prime Minister’s party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, contesting the 2024 general election. The BJP’s acclaimed poll machine is an achievement in itself, but he believes it will ultimately depend on how well the party can sell the ‘Modi vs Others’ narrative if it is voted to power for a third consecutive term. I have to come