The general election 2024 has become one Hitchcockian suspense thriller. Nobody knows the climax. Will the BJP get the majority mark, is the biggest question now. Normally after the 3rd or 4th phase of polling, one gets an idea in which direction the wind is blowing. The BJP, which started as favourite in this election is now struggling. If the prime minister’s tone is any indication then it is apparent that he is not sure if he will get the third term; he and his army of supporters are making every effort to cross the finishing line.

The Opposition has suddenly discovered wings. Its body language has changed and its leaders look more energetic. In contrast the prime minister who is known for his energy and articulation, looks tired and is repeating himself. It is apparent that after Ayodhya Pran Pratishtha, when the saffron wave was palpable and it was felt that the BJP was winning with a big margin, victory was written on the wall; the prime minister was confident of his next tenure. Now that zing thing is missing. The Ram Mandir issue, which was considered to be the X - Factor in the election, has disappeared. For BJP, the state (UP) which was supposed to get the maximum seats, is now giving a different vibe, and nothing can be said confidently as to how the BJP will perform in the state.

UP was the game changer for the BJP in the 2014 elections. In 2009, BJP had only 10 seats from the state with 20.27% vote share. Even in the 2012 assembly election, the BJP did not do well but in two years’ time, its vote share jumped from 15% to 42% and parliamentary seats unprecedentedly increased to 73 along with its ally Apna Dal and since then the BJP’s dominance has remained unchallenged. It had a few jitters in the 2022 assembly........

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