2024 Lok Sabha Elections: BJP Could Secure 350 Seats Alone, 5 in Tamil Nadu, Surjit Bhalla Tells NDTV

Surjit Bhalla, an economist and author of the book ‘How We Vote’, recently shared his perspectives on the upcoming Indian general elections in an interview with NDTV. He mentioned that the BJP is likely to secure anywhere between 330 to 350 seats, citing statistical possibilities.

Bhalla emphasized the potential for a wave election and noted that the economy and leadership play crucial roles in shaping the electoral outcome. Regarding the opposition Congress party, Bhalla predicted that they may secure around 44 seats, slightly lower than their 2014 tally.

He attributed this projection to the party’s leadership and its impact on the electorate. Bhalla also expressed confidence in the BJP’s prospects in traditionally weak states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, crediting the party’s efforts and the improvement in people’s living conditions for potentially gaining seats in these regions.

Bhalla stressed that Indian voters prioritize improvements in their quality of life when casting their ballots, emphasizing the role of the economy in shaping electoral decisions. He highlighted the evolving nature of poverty and the need to redefine poverty indicators based on changing living standards and economic progress.

The economist also criticized the reliability of data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), dismissing it as untrustworthy. He accused the opposition of selectively using this data to target the BJP during elections, raising doubts about the credibility of such information.

With the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April 26 and the remaining phases to follow in May, the electoral process will culminate in the counting of votes on June 4.