Political strategist Prashant Kishor recently faced scrutiny over his projection of approximately 300 seats for the BJP in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Responding to the backlash, Kishor advised those unsettled by his forecast to stay hydrated on June 4th. This statement followed the circulation of a viral video clip featuring his interview with journalist Karan Thapar, where questions arose regarding the accuracy of his past predictions.
Critics cited an old tweet from May 2022 where Kishor had predicted a significant loss for the Congress in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. However, the Congress emerged victorious in Himachal Pradesh’s assembly elections that year, casting doubt on Kishor’s forecasting abilities. When pressed by Thapar in the interview, Kishor refuted claims of predicting a Congress defeat and challenged the journalist to provide video evidence to support such assertions.
Kishor remained steadfast in his demand for video footage, dismissing news articles as insufficient proof of his previous predictions. He faced online criticism following his assertion of a third consecutive victory for the BJP, predicting that the party, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, would maintain or slightly improve its seat count. Kishor also criticized the opposition INDIA bloc for its failure to nominate a prime ministerial candidate, a vulnerability exploited by the BJP in their campaign.
Supporting Kishor’s electoral forecast, US political scientist Ian Bremmer also anticipated a landslide win for the BJP, estimating between 295 and 315 seats. The BJP-led NDA’s campaign slogan, ‘Abki baar, 400 paar,’ underscores their aspiration to surpass the 400-seat milestone. Their strategy involves strengthening their presence in key states like West Bengal, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, aiming for a decisive victory in the elections.
