From the Urdu Press: ‘What became of Modi guarantees on jobs, black money… Can Bihar show INDIA the way?’

As the election season gets underway, key contenders have shifted to a higher gear with the BJP getting a head start by declaring 195 candidates, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party’s mascot and campaign spearhead, who is eyeing a hat-trick. In contrast, the Opposition INDIA alliance still seems to be in the doldrums, struggling to stitch seat-sharing deals or a compelling narrative. Mapping the arc of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Urdu dailies also tracked the Rajya Sabha polls, with the INDIA camp again losing the plot amid cross-voting and defections that even pushed the Congress government in Himachal to the brink.

Referring to the BJP’s move to release its first roster of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, the Hyderabad-based Siasat in its March 3 editorial says that while the Election Commission has yet to announce the poll schedule, the ruling party has stepped up its preparations. On the other hand, the Congress and its other INDIA bloc partners continue to be stuck in their seat-sharing negotiations.

“The BJP has already mounted a massive campaign centred on its plank of Modi’s guarantees. All the party leaders have been pitching it, calling it indispensable for the country’s development. This is being amplified by pro-establishment media and channels round the clock,” the daily states.

However, the BJP camp does not appear to be keen to present its 10-year report card. “Modi had made several big promises to the country for the 2014 polls too. No one is ready to even question what happened to them. On top of that list was Modi’s pledge to provide 2 crore jobs to the people annually. His government has perhaps not been able to meet this target even in 10 years though,” the edit says. “The jobs in