Congress to Gain More Seats in 2024 than in 2019 Elections: P Chidambaram

In an interview with news agency PTI, Mr Chidambaram expressed his views on the political landscape ahead of the upcoming election. He stated that neither Hinduism nor the Hindus were under any threat and criticized the BJP’s tactic of portraying the entire Opposition as “anti-Hindu” in order to bolster PM Modi’s image as the “saviour of Hindus.”

He also highlighted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s significance in the election, emphasizing that her ability to maintain stronghold in the state would strengthen the INDIA bloc. Mr Chidambaram confidently predicted a resounding victory for the INDIA bloc in Tamil Nadu, indicating that in Kerala, the two fronts (UDF and LDF) would share the 20 seats, leaving nothing to the BJP.

He also expressed optimism about the Congress’s popularity in Karnataka and Telangana, stating that the party will secure more seats than in the 2019 elections. He noted that the Congress might see an improved performance, citing encouraging reports about the INDIA bloc from several other states including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Delhi.

Addressing PM Modi’s accusation of the Opposition’s appeasement politics and portrayal as “anti-Hindu,” Mr Chidambaram emphasized that this was a calculated strategy by the BJP to boost Narendra Modi’s image as the saviour of Hindus, despite Hinduism not being in danger. When asked about Mamata Banerjee’s role in the upcoming election, he acknowledged her as a key player, emphasizing her impact on strengthening the INDIA combination.

Mr Chidambaram also raised the Kachchatheevu issue, dismissing it as a closed matter and questioning the BJP’s timing in bringing it up during the election period. The Kachchatheevu issue, an age-old territorial and fishing rights dispute between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, gained prominence ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, becoming a point of contention between the BJP and the Opposition parties.

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