Prashant Kishor said that any party which wants to defeat the BJP needs a long-term approach.
New Delhi:
Election strategist Prashant Kishor said on Monday that he wants to help build an opposition front that can defeat the BJP in 2024 and that it was “entirely possible” even if the results of next month’s state elections – one for the general – Kind of seen as a semi-final. The elections were unfavourable.
“Is it possible to defeat the BJP in 2024? The answer is a sympathetic yes. But is it possible with the current players and formations? Probably not,” Mr Kishor told NDTV in an interview, with a “little adjustment”, a A “little change” instead of a new national party.
“If you take Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala – about 200 Lok Sabha seats, at the peak of their popularity, the BJP managed to win 50-odd seats. In the remaining 350 seats, the BJP all Something is clearing up,” he said.
“It tells you that if the Congress or the Trinamool or any other party or a combination of these parties regroups itself, and realigns its resources and strategy, and says that they will hold about 100 seats out of 200. If pulled, the opposition can reach 250-260. Even with the current numbers,” Mr. Kishor said.
“So, it (defeating the BJP) is possible by winning another 100 seats in the north and west,” he said, revealing his ultimate goal: “I want to help build an opposition front that will give a strong fight in 2024.” could.”
He added that the BJP has put together a very “formidable narrative” by combining the planks of Hindutva, “ultra-nationalism” and welfare, and that the opposition parties will have to outdo them on at least two of these accounts as well as come together to unite. Apart from this, much more will have to be done. In a so-called “grand alliance”.
“Bihar has not succeeded even a single ‘Mahagathbandhan’ since 2015. Mere coming together of parties and leaders will not suffice. You need narrative and a coherent organisation,” Mr. Kishor said.
He also flagged the issue of about 200 Lok Sabha seats out of India’s 543 Lok Sabha seats, which in the last two elections saw a massive two-way fight between the Congress and the BJP with the ruling party winning 95 per cent – an almost Tatkal benefit 190 seats.
Cautioning against reading the results of next month’s assembly elections as a marker for 2024, he said, “It is quite possible that the BJP may win everything in this round and still lose 2024. In 2012, UP was won by SP (Samajwadi Party), Uttarakhand by Congress, Manipur by Congress, Punjab by Akalis, but in 2014 the result was very different.”
Perhaps alluding to how he is placing his bets for the crucial elections in Uttar Pradesh, Prashant Kishor said, “It is important to expand the social base if you want to take on the BJP in UP. United Opposition should have a bigger social base. Much more than what it is today… be it non-Yadav OBCs or Dalits or more integration of the forward classes.”
The 45-year-old, who calls himself a “political ally”, said, “Any party or leader who wants to defeat the BJP should have a 5-10-year vision. This cannot happen in five months. But it will happen. That is the power of democracy.”
Elaborating on his own bet, he said, “My life is not driven by this idea of defeating any individual or party. I think in our country, we need a stronger opposition. I personally have more alliances.” I feel [the opposition ideology], and that Congress should not be allowed to weaken as an idea,
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