BARPETA/THIRUVANANTHPURAM, India (Reuters) – As India votes in a six-week general election, Narendra Modi’s image adorns everything from packs of rice handed out to the poor to large posters in cities and towns.
His Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is relying on the prime minister’s popularity as it seeks a super-majority in India’s parliament. Its message: Modi has delivered economic growth, infrastructure upgrades and India’s improved standing in the world.
But as the Hindu nationalist party and its allies target 400 of the 543 seats in India’s lower house of parliament – up from 352 won in 2019 – they are also employing local tactics in some vital constituencies they hope to wrest from the opposition.
Opinion polls indicate Modi will win a rare third term when voting ends on June 1. But only once in Indian history has a party crossed the 400 mark – when the centre-left Congress party romped to victory following the assassination of its leader Indira Gandhi in 1984.
To examine how the right-wing National Democratic Alliance (NDA) aims to achieve that feat – and the obstacles it faces – Reuters spoke to nine NDA officials, three opposition leaders and two political analysts, as well as voters in six opposition-held seats the alliance is targeting.
As India gears up for elections, the strategic maneuvers of Modi and the BJP are under scrutiny. Their meticulous Modi BJP Plan involves a multifaceted approach aimed at securing a supermajority in the parliament.
Secondly, the Modi BJP Plan includes a robust digital campaign to engage tech-savvy voters and disseminate the party’s message effectively. Utilizing social media platforms and digital tools, the BJP strategically targets specific voter segments and amplifies its narrative. Furthermore, Modi’s strong online presence and interactive engagements with citizens bolster the party’s visibility and appeal.
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