The conch for electoral battle has been blown. The dates for elections are set, the date for results announcement has arrived, and the strategic chessboard for checkmate is being put in place. Starting the day after tomorrow, March 20th, the nomination process for the first phase of 102 Lok Sabha seats will kick off, with ground action having already begun. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has entered the fray, conducting whirlwind rallies and roadshows in five states to breach the fortress of the south. Meanwhile, the opposition INDIA coalition has already showcased unity with a massive rally in Mumbai.
Amid election fever, the hues of political melodrama have also blended in. Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi targeted the government, stating that Hinduism possesses a unique power. 'We are not just fighting BJP or Narendra Modi; our battle is with that power,' Rahul explained, without revealing what the power is. However, PM Modi turned Rahul's attack into his weapon. Linking power with women, PM Modi launched a fierce counter in Telangana, which is governed by Congress.
He announced that on June 4th, a contest would unfold to see who ends the power and who gains its blessings. In West Bengal, BJP leaders are calling Mamata Banerjee's injury a drama connected to the election. As the verbal war intensifies, from ticket distribution to seat-sharing, the preparations of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition led by Congress will reveal who is more ready.
From Ticket Distribution to Rallies, NDA Takes the Lead
The NDA appears to lead both in ticket distribution and election rallies. BJP has announced candidates for 267 seats so far. It covers states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and the Union Territories of Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar, Daman & Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. On the flip side, Congress seems to be lagging, having released only two lists totaling 82 candidates to date. The NDA partner RLD has fielded candidates in two seats in UP, while the SP has announced candidates for over 40 seats. TMC has revealed its hand for all 42 seats in West Bengal at once.
Aam Aadmi Party Announced These Many Candidates
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi and Punjab has declared candidates not only for all its seats in Delhi and eight in Punjab but also for three in Assam. AAP is contesting in the electoral field forming alliances with Congress in Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, Goa, and Chandigarh. Biju Janata Dal in Odisha has announced candidates for nine seats, and the Left has declared for all 20 seats in Kerala and 16 in West Bengal.
Seat Allotment in These States Entangled in Coalition Terms
In several states, candidate declaration is entangled in coalition complications. In Bihar, after marathon discussions, NDA resolved its seat-sharing only yesterday with BJP contesting 17 seats and JD(U) on 16. Chirag Paswan's party will contest five seats, while parties of Jitan Ram Manjhi and Upendra Kushwaha each fight for one.
Modi Hits the Field, Slow Pace for the INDIA Coalition
Instantly after the election schedule was announced, PM Modi delved into campaigning. With consecutive rallies in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, and an upcoming roadshow in Kerala, the PM's strategic focus is micro-targeted, while the Congress-led opposition INDIA coalition's mass-focused approach raises questions about the impact of their show of force on the electorate.
