The BJP has itself realised that the wave and charisma of 2014 is missing from the ground and it cannot repeat its past performance where the strike rate for the BJP was from 90 per cent to even 100 per cent in a few states. Supposedly, if the per cent is down by 50 or so then the BJP may lose more than 90 seats and its final tally may be within 200 seats, said M.K. Venu, founder The Wire and former Editor Economic Times while addressing a public meet at JIH headquarters in the national capital on April 27.
Speaking on “Lok Sabha Elections: Fears and Possibilities,” Venu said that mathematic and chemistry and the readings from last three phases and what appears from the campaign particularly from the Hindi heartland in particular and the South and Eastern regions are that the 2019 polls are likely to throw a hung verdict where there could the possibility of Karnataka model and someone from the South can possibly emerge as the dark horse to lead that coalition.
On the post-poll arithmetic, he said if the BJP falls short of the magic figure by 50 to 60 seats then it would be very difficult to manage the allies because given the past experience no alliance partner would be willing to support the party controlled by only two persons, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.
Symbolism is very important in politics and sharing of platform by Mulayam Singh, Mayawati and RLD Chief Ajit Singh is likely to send positive historic message to the voters on the ground which the Mahagathbandhan had desired of. However, the possibility of having a consensus Mahagathbandhan candidate against NDA has been missed fairly and needless to say which party should share the blame for that.