Prashant Kishor Forecasts BJP’s Prospects in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Ahead of Lok Sabha Elections

Election strategist Prashant Kishor has offered bold predictions regarding the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) performance in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, foreseeing significant gains for the party in eastern and southern states. Kishor anticipates the BJP’s emergence as a formidable force in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, traditional bastions of opposition parties.

In an exclusive interview with news agency PTI, Kishor suggested that the BJP could secure the highest number of seats in southern and eastern India, projecting a notable surge in vote share particularly in Tamil Nadu. “I had said this a year back that for the first time, I see the BJP in double digits in Tamil Nadu in terms of vote share. They (BJP) will either be the first or second party in Telangana, which is a significant achievement,” remarked Kishor.

Continuing his analysis, Kishor emphasized, “They will be number one in Odisha for sure. You would be surprised, as in all likelihood, to my mind, the BJP is going to be the number one party in West Bengal.” Despite the BJP’s ambitious claim of securing more than 400 seats in the 520-seat Lok Sabha, Kishor remains skeptical, suggesting that the party is unlikely to surpass 370 seats.

States like Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Kerala collectively hold 204 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha. However, the BJP’s performance in these states has historically been modest, with the party failing to secure more than 50 seats combined in the 2014 and 2019 elections.

Kishor opined that the BJP’s stronghold in northern and western India remains intact but stressed that the party could face challenges if the opposition, particularly the Congress, manages to dent its dominance in these regions. Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi, Kishor highlighted the significance of strategic campaigning in battleground states, criticizing the opposition leader’s focus on non-crucial regions.

Commenting on Rahul Gandhi’s decision not to contest from the Amethi seat, Kishor asserted, “If you do not win in UP, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, there is no benefit if you win from Wayanad. Strategically, I can say that letting that space (Amethi) go will only send a wrong message.”