The country is heading towards the final phase of polling. Voting shall be concluded on remaining 57 seats on Saturday. Amidst the election fervour, both the political parties played their cards to woo the voters. But this time the opposition seems to have made certain wrong moves, which might work against them. The opposition may have miscalculated by placing excessive emphasis on PM Narendra Modi’s meditation in Kanyakumari. With their aggressive stance and assertive statements, the opposition might unintentionally divide Hindu voters, which could help the BJP in the next elections.
The opposition’s concern lies in Prime Minister Modi’s perceived ability to sway votes through his meditation activities. Speculations float as experts suggest that the opposition’s line of questioning could play as a catalyst in turning the tide in favour of BJP in the upcoming June 1 voting. Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to Kanyakumari and gave a big message to Sanatan Dharma by performing puja. He paid homage to Mother Bhagwati Amman and embarked on a two-day meditation session at the Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial until June 1, further adds to the political dynamics. Opposition’s Contradictory Statement Could Shift Political Landscape in Key States.
The opposition’s recent contradictory statement is poised to reshape the political landscape, particularly in Bihar, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Himachal Pradesh, with potentially lesser impact in Punjab. Mamata Banerjee’s awareness of Swami Vivekananda’s Bengali roots adds complexity, especially as the BJP aims to expand its presence in Bengal during the upcoming elections. If the remaining 9 seats of Bengal are affected, TMC will fall behind. In 2019, TMC had won all these seats. Due to this, the first attack was made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, along with Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, and RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav, grabbed the opportunity to raise questions. Voting for the remaining seats in the states represented by these leaders is scheduled for June 1. The Congress has directly approached the Election Commission, alleging a violation of the election code of conduct.
Mallikarjun Kharge went as far as to suggest that Prime Minister Modi could commence his meditation after June 4, implying his potential exit from office. The opposition, including Congress, aimed to display unity today, signaling confidence in the India alliance’s prospects for victory on June 4. Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh boldly asserted that in the event of victory, the India alliance would announce its prime ministerial candidate within 48 hours. However, when pressed, Kharge evaded the question, choosing instead to express gratitude towards Sonia Gandhi. This display of confidence from the opposition stems from their belief that Hindu votes have been fractured due to caste-based politics, impacting BJP’s traditionally dominant support.
Contrary to this, Prime Minister Modi extensively campaigned on the Hindutva agenda. In response to demands for reservations, he proposed reservations for Muslims and then announced his meditation plans. It was a strategic move, anticipating the polarizing effect it would have on the remaining seats. The opposition’s reactions reignited discussions around Sanatan Dharma, inadvertently falling into PM Modi’s carefully laid trap. Despite PM Modi’s past meditative retreats during the 2019 elections and his regular pilgrimages, the opposition seemed to overlook these factors, potentially setting themselves up for self-sabotage. As history shows, BJP secured 25 out of 57 seats during the last meditation event. This underscores the significance of the upcoming June 1 meditation, as it may well influence the outcomes in key states like Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh. But the opposition may face a big blow.