General elections 2024: The BJP chief has his task cut out for him

Unemployment, a general decline in incomes, and high food, health and medical bills are not good auguries for the party

The BJP has held its national executive meeting. Its president wants the party to win in all 9 states, elections to which are due this year. Mr Modi has said that the Opposition should not be underestimated.

So naturally, a discussion has now started in real earnest over the next general election due in April 2024. The party has identified 160 seats for special campaigns. It would need 112 more to win a simple majority. Presumably, it thinks these are already won.

The focus is now very clearly on how many seats the BJP will lose from the 303 it won in