Congress leader Shashi  Tharoor has cautiously predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will retain its position as the largest party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, he anticipates that the BJP’s seat tally will shrink compared to the 2019 elections. Tharoor suggests that the potential decline in the BJP’s vote share could be due to a contraction in its Hindu nationalist vote bank, which has been a crucial pillar of its electoral success in recent years.

Despite this, Tharoor sees a window of opportunity for the Congress to capitalize on the situation by focusing on strengthening its base among core demographics, such as youth, women, and Dalits. These groups, according to Tharoor, hold the key to Congress’s ability to challenge the BJP’s dominance. He emphasizes that Congress must make a concerted effort to appeal to these constituencies, which could shift the balance of power in favor of the opposition.

Tharoor also stresses the critical importance of a unified opposition alliance in the upcoming elections. He believes that a cohesive and well-organized opposition coalition can siphon votes away from the BJP, weakening its chances of securing a majority. For this reason, he calls for the opposi

tion parties to come together with a common agenda and strategy, which he views as essential for contesting the elections effectively and for the potential formation of a new government.

One of Tharoor’s key points is the need for opposition parties to reach a “substantial agreement” on seat-sharing arrangements. He warns that any internal conflicts or disagreements within the opposition could undermine its effectiveness and reduce its chances of posing a serious challenge to the BJP. Tharoor acknowledges that seat-sharing discussions among opposition parties are ongoing but emphasizes the urgency of finalizing these agreements to avoid last-minute complications and to ensure a united front against the BJP.

In summary, while Tharoor pre

dicts that the BJP will likely remain the largest party in the 2024 elections, he sees an opportunity for the Congress and its allies to reduce the BJP’s seat share. He believes that focusing on core demographics and building a strong, unifie

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opposition alliance will be critical to challenging the BJP and achieving the magic number of 272 seats needed to form the government.