On Monday, the election strategist Prashant Kishor said he would like to contribute to the
formation of an opposition group that could take on that party in 2024. BJP in 2024.
He said the idea could be “entirely possible” even if the results of the state elections –
viewed as a semi-final for the general election, which are not in favor.
“Is it possible to defeat the BJP in 2024? The answer is an emphatic yes. But is it possible
with the current set of players and formations? Probably no,” Mr. Kishor said to NDTV in an
interview.
Averting people from taking the outcome of this month’s elections for the assembly as a
precursor to 2024, he added, “It is quite possible that BJP wins everything in this round
and still go on to lose 2024. In 2012, UP was won by SP (Samajwadi Party), Uttarakhand
by Congress, Manipur by Congress, Punjab by Akalis, but the result in 2014 was very
different.”
Perhaps hinting at the direction Prashant Kishor was betting to win the crucial elections that
will be held in Uttar Pradesh, Prashant Kishor declared, “Expanding the social base is vital if
you want to take on BJP in UP.
The social base of the combined opposition has to be bigger than what it is today…
whether it is non-Yadav OBCs or more consolidation of Dalits or forward classes.”
He also laid out a plan of what it might be like to defeat his BJP by 2024.
“If you take Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala –
roughly 200 [Lok Sabha] seats, even at the peak of their popularity, the BJP has been able
to win only 50-odd hearts.
In the remaining 350 seats, the BJP is sweeping everything,” he stated.
“What it tells you is that if the Congress or Trinamool or any other party or combination of
these parties realign themselves, and reboot their resources and strategy, and say they pull
about 100 seats from the 200, then the opposition can reach 250-260 even with the
present numbers,” Mr. Kishor said.
“So, it (defeating the BJP) is possible by winning another 100 seats in the north and west,”
said he, while declaring his ultimate target: “I want to help form an opposition front that
can give a stronger fight in 2024.”
He claimed that the BJP presented an extremely “formidable narrative” by using the
Hindutva issue hyper-nationalism, hyper-nationalism, and public welfare opposition parties
were required to beat them in the two issues and not just to form as a “grand alliance.”
“Not a single ‘grand alliance’ has succeeded since Bihar 2015. Merely coming together of
parties and leaders will not be sufficient.
It would help if you had the narrative and a coherent outfit,” Mr. Kishor stated.
He also raised the issue of about 200 Lok Sabha seats in the 543 seats that represent the
contest being essentially two-way among Congress and the BJP, with the ruling party
winning 95 percent of these seats in the last two elections – a slam advantage of around
180 seats.
The 45-year old who is”a “political aide” said, “Any political party or leader who is
determined to beat the BJP must be able to see the future in five to ten years.
It’s not going to happen within five months. But it is likely to take place. This is the power
of democracy.
“Describing his stakes, the politician said, “My life is not driven by this idea of defeating a
person or a party.
I do think that in our country, we need strong opposition.
I feel more aligned to [the opposition ideology]. And that the Congress as an idea should
not be allowed be weakened.”
