BJP losing steam in 13 states, claims Axis My India MD

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru/New Delhi: Managing Director (MD) of Axis My India and noted psephologist Pradeep Gupta asserts that the ruling BJP’s boast of crossing the 400 seat mark in this Lok Sabha elections seem far-fetched given its poor standing in 13 states.

He made the remarks exclusively to the news website Moneycontrol. Gupta claimed that the saffron party had “almost zero chances” to better its tally in 13 states namely Maharashtra, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Goa.

Gupta pointed out that the BJP-led NDA had bagged 352 seats of the 543 that went to polls in the 2019 elections.

This was in part due to the fact that in the aforementioned 13 states and some UTs, the ruling coalition had won 238 seats of a possible 257.

“During the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the NDA had a 93 per cent strike rate in these states. However, considering the 2024 general election, the alliance in power has almost zero chances of getting more seats, and its tally may reduce. To reach 400, it will have to maintain at least its existing position,” Gupta said.

He justified his conclusion with the assertion that equations had changed Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi.

“Maharashtra has new alliances, and there has been a split in two major parties, the Shiv Sena and NCP. The equation has also changed compared to the last general election. Similarly, in Karnataka, the Congress formed the government with a landslide victory and has the potential to win seats as well. In Delhi, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party have already stitched an alliance,” the psephologist added.