Key Points
Many see the BJP will return to power for the third term easily even if its tally falls below the majority mark as its allies are expected to win enough seats to make up for the shortfall..
It has set a target of 370 seats for itself and 400 for the NDA...
In one-on-one contests with Congress across states, the BJP secured 133 out of 138 Lok Sabha seats in 2019 and 121 out of 138 in 2014, a TOI analysis shows.. Even in states where BJP and Congress competed alongside their alliance partners, the saffron party has achieved spectacular success against the grand old party..
In 2019, BJP made strong inroads into the TMC stronghold in West Bengal, by winning 18 seats and being a close second to the ruling party in the state which won 22 seats..
Given the muddied politics of the state, it could be difficult for the BJP to repeat the 2019 performance while the voters can also wholeheartedly support the BJP and even increase its tally as the party now has the support of the bigger Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde as well the bigger NCP faction led Ajit Pawar...