BJP’s 2024 tally to be bigger than in 2019, says Rajnath

LUCKNOW: Defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) family would emerge stronger than ever before in the next Lok Sabha elections. Talking to TOI at the Lucknow residence of his son, Noida MLA Pankaj Singh, just after home minister Amit Shah tweeted about Om Prakash Rajbhar’s return to NDA, he said the tally of BJP and allies would be bigger than what it was in 2019.

When asked where the numbers would come from, given the reverses the party has faced in some recent state polls, he said: “Modiji’s appeal across India faces no challenge. People have full confidence in the working of the central leadership. Our prime minister is emerging as a global leader who has upheld India’s pride abroad, and it is playing a big role in winning over the people’s support. There are many political parties willing to join us. PM Modi’s popularity is immense, and parties know that their future is secured in a strong alliance.”

Talking about ‘difficult’ states like Bihar, where the ground situation has changed due to the departure of JD(U) from NDA, he said: “We will again sweep Bihar and hold on to our seats in West Bengal and Maharashtra. And even in the states where BJP lost recently – like Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka – voters were quite clear that they would vote for the Modi government’s third term.”

He also rebutted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations about Chinese incursions on the border. “He goes to the extent of speaking against our own Army. This is not the way one raises issues. The ground situation now is that China has started showing keen interest in settling the issue. No country can dare any misadventure against a strong nation,” Singh said.

When asked about the opposition to UCC by even some NDA constituents, he said the government was trying its best to build a consensus. “People don’t have a clear picture so far. The Central government seeks public opinion, and everybody would be taken along before reaching a final decision.”

On the lingering Manipur crisis, he said the government was making a relentless effort for peace. “We are treading cautiously. The Army has been instructed to follow restraint. We hope that the state will soon return to normalcy.”

“Modiji’s appeal across India faces no challenge. People have full confidence in the working of the central leadership. Our PM is emerging as a global leader who has upheld India’s pride abroad, and it is playing a big role in winning over the people’s support. There are many political parties willing to join us, the minister said.