Brij Bhardwaj
Bhartiya Janata Party is busy rebuilding National Democratic Front, as part of new strategy to fight the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In present form NDA has fifteen parties as members, but with exception of AIADMK, the rest are small groups with limited following. The aim of the current exercise is to make it effective by bringing back old allies like Akali Dal and Telugu Desam into its fold, and bring in new members.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has started negotiations with leaders of different parties who were earlier part of NDA, but had left, or others who are not keen to be part of opposition parties’ front being promoted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. An understanding with Akali Dal will help the BJP to find a firm foothold in Punjab. In recent polls for Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat, BJP and Akali Dal had fought separately and did badly. If they had come to an understanding, they could have caused an upset as total votes polled by their candidates were more than the votes polled by winning candidate of Aam Aadmi Party.
According to reports an understanding with the Akali Dal, which had left NDA on the issue of farm law is certain as a resolution has been reached with the withdrawal of the same. Akali Dal had also not joined opposition parties who had boycotted the inauguration of new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Telugu Desam Party was also a part of NDA earlier. Its leader Chandra Babu Naidu has also met Home Minister Amit Shah and efforts are on to bring it back into NDA fold. This will help BJP in giving an effective fight in Telengana.
In addition BJP leaders are also in touch with Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who has declared that he does not want to join any opposition front. His party had also not joined the boycott of inauguration of new Parliament building by Prime Minister. In addition BJP is also talking to many regional groups in U.P so that it can pick up all 80 Lok Sabha seats in the State to make up any shortfall in other States.
The objective of the BJP is clear, that while leaders of opposition are talking about united front or reaching an understanding, BJP front should be ready for a fight in 2024. Given the resent situation where BJP enjoys advantage of having a popular leader Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it should be able to overcome local factors in States where its own organisation is not very strong. BJP has also taken note of defeat in Karnataka and revised its election strategy accordingly.
It has been decided for instance that BJP while highlighting programme of Union Government will also show achievements of State Governments. The local leaders in States will be given due importance. BJP will try to make corruption a major poll issue in opposition ruled States like Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. It will also take care to resolve any local issue or differences among leaders.
In selection of candidates, the main criteria will be ability to win the seat. Local surveys and view of States leaders will be given due importance. There is no decision yet if the elections are to be fought in name of Prime Minister or a chief minister is to be projected. This may differ from State to State depending on ground situation. The aim of new strategy is that BJP should win enough seats to get a majority in Lok Sabha to form the Government while allies provide additional support.
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