Lok Sabha poll dates in: With Modi as mascot, BJP rides high on Hindutva, vikas; plugs holes with new allies

The announcement of the Lok Sabha poll schedule by the Election Commission has set the stage for a grand battle between an upbeat BJP led by two-term Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is looking for a third consecutive win, and the fragmented Opposition INDIA alliance, which has yet to find its act together.

The BJP is looking to capitalise on not just PM Modi’s popularity and his “personal guarantees” but also on the fervour created by the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya less than two months ago.

Unlike the past Lok Sabha elections, the incumbent BJP appears confident about clinching the upcoming polls, even as the Opposition bloc has been struggling to come up with issues, ideas and narrative to counter Modi.

While the BJP has managed to balance its pulls and pressures to project a united face rallied behind Modi, the parties of the INDIA alliance are still working at cross-purposes and going after each other, with the Congress and a few major Opposition players failing to reach the seat-sharing agreements in some key states.

Setting a target of 370 seats for the BJP and 400 seats for the NDA, PM Modi has put the past behind for the larger cause of a triumph, roping in even partners who had earlier targeted him personally.

In the last few months, the NDA, which already had over 30 smaller allies, has expanded its fold to induct new partners – the JD(S), JD(U), TDP and Jana Sena Party (JSP).

The BJP’s alliance with the JJP in Haryana has however collapsed recently, even as its negotiations to bring back its erstwhile ally SAD have not progressed much while the party’s alliance talks with Odisha’s ruling BJD still remains inconclusive.

Despite being in pole position, the BJP has not left any stones unturned to see