A new alternative emerges in national politics, but it isn’t yet for Modi & BJP

BJP’s one main old rival is declining across the country, and it’s being replaced by new, noisier, sharper, more populist and ruthless challengers. Watch this week's National Interest by ThePrint's Editor-in- Chief Shekhar Gupta on a new alternative to Congress & why that’s not good news for BJP either.

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[rajeshdaviyal]

Congress is a case study in politics like Nokia is a case study in management or B schools.

[knowall]

As long as the opposition parties keep on appeasing Muslims, Modi has his position secured.

[gautamwadhwani]

That's because you believe that BJP cannot form a narrative against the new parties.
It is difficult to dislodge BJP because they never sit on their laurels. They have a succession plan in place which is lacking in the alternative

[SuperYoman]

No. My reason to vote for Modi isn't the lack of an alternative opposition figure. My vote if for the infrastructural development.
I am sure there are many for more like me, how is this not part of the discussion?

[arindammukhopadhyay]

How funny, you always in search for alternative of BJP. But your wish will never be fulfilled in your lifetime .

[shivajitripathi]

BJP can't be challenged from left. If there can be a serious alternative to BJP it has to be from right. More so economically and socially.

[karthikbalakrishna]

One thing is for sure, politics in India is moving towards meritocracy rather than dynasty. Doesn't matter if it's BJP or AAP but congress has to be reduced to the history books for all their appeasement and vote bank politics. So that other so called secular parties have shivers down their spine that either they follow the constitution whole heartedly or reduce themselves to history books. This includes to the parties in my homestate of TN

[heloharish]

If 5% vote share is bench mark for AAP then BJP has around 7% vote share in Punjab.Will it not be a threat to AAP in Punjab.When we extend it more BJP has more than or nearly 20% voteshare in many states including Odisha, Telengana etc.Will it not be a threat to TRS & BJD.But what he says is AAP just getting 5% vote share is a threat but BJP having more than 20% vote share is not even in fight in those states.What a fall of analysis & journalism by SG.There are no balanced views nowadays from the name sake neutral journalists.

[junnuravikumar]

YSRCP can’t go against BJP as long as the new state is dependent on center for funding to run the state. And it will not happen in the next 15 years to make a self reliant AP.

[vijaydinanathchavan]

It is still a long way to go for AAP. Surat & Gandhinagar municipal election happened during the tenure of Vijay Rupani (Jain Baniya). AAP won since it's candidates were associated with PAAS (Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti) and self sabotage by Congress due to ticket distribution.
With the appointment of Bhupendra Patel, a Patidar as the CM and elevation of Mandaviya (Leuva Patidar) and Rupala (Kadva Patidar) as Cabinet ministers Patidars would stay with the BJP and C. R. Patil as the President is very shrewd & efficient. As far as rest of states is concerned AAP is just making noises in social media & giving soundbytes to media. Look at Goa, Uttarakhand were they lost deposit in many seats.

[vupmc]

Mr Gupta's perseverance at trying to mount a credible challenge to BJP is commendable..During last general elections, he ran so many commentaries as to how BJP has already lost...
The reality is Shri Modi delivers consistently due to his absolute dedication, hard work and discipline...
Find another leader from the opposition who can match a fourth of Shri Modi before you waxed eloquently....

[dpatel]

Anti Hindu opposition will never work. Those days are over. Only pro Hindu opposition can counter BJP.

[joshua_ch]

Thanks! I was looking at CMIE unemployment data and some of it is quite surprising. Delhi for example had much higher unemployment than UP. The unemployment situation seems to depend a lot on local policies. Gujarat does very well as expected but Rajasthan or Haryana do much worse than one would expect. Not enough emphasis is put on state government policies, hope ThePrint and Shekhar Gupta will consider giving economic policies of states a much closer and critical look that is needed.

[Eternalbliz]

The thing is, we have this incredible top level ministers at the government. These ministers might not be the smartest or the wittiest, but they are not corrupted. And that is the most important thing for india rn. I hope BJP can slowly remove corruption in the local govt and other states steadily

[rravisankar]

Indian populace are far wiser than any journalists could fathom. Journalistic political wishes are wishful thinking!

[soumitrajhuntu]

Secularism my foot ! Nobody in India is secular ; neither politicians nor voters ! But if you believe like most that Muslim worshipping is tantamount to secularism then the matter is different! And as far as Kejri's rise is concerned, well, it's all the magic of freebies which saps the economy not in the very long run as Sri Lanka has brilliantly exemplified 😂😂😂😂

[gevigevigevi]

We really need an alternate to Congress. Plus, without a viable rival, a sense of complacency is sure to get ingrained within the BJP.

[rajeshsawhney]

Not agree with your analysis if people were looking for alternative to BJP at Goa and Uttarakhand they may have voted for AAP. In Assam if you see ward wise data congress loss and AAP gain is only in Muslim area and in rest of wards AAP vote share is less then 2% which is possible in Muncipal election. Better you ask your team to share data with you before you tell story in your program

[heatengine]

People should realize that a viable alternative for BJP can only rise from the Right.

[karmanyakumar]

I don't think any one will challenge bjp in 2024.so focus should be 2029.And it's also interesting who will be pm candidate of BJP after our PM.