BJP Will Emerge As Single-Largest Party In Lok Sabha Polls: Shashi Tharoor Predicts

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday has claimed that the ruling BJP will emerge as the single-largest party in the next Lok Sabha polls.

"I still expect that the BJP will emerge as the single-largest party. But I do believe their numbers can be brought down to a level where their potential allies required to form a government may no longer be willing to ally with them and may be willing to ally with us. So we have to give it a try," India Today quoted the Congress veteran as saying at the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) in Kozhikode on Saturday.

Over the seat-sharing talks among the alliance partners within the INDIA bloc, Tharoor expressed his optimism about reaching "sufficient agreements" across numerous states to prevent avoidable defeats. He emphasized that the decisions would be made considering the unique political dynamics of each state.

According to him, the INDIA bloc can reach an agreement in some states where the parties can field a single candidate against the BJP while there are possibilities of having multiple candidates in some states. "The voter has to choose the person they consider would best represent them", the Congress leader noted.

Citing an example of Kerala, he said that it is "almost impossible to imagine the two major opponents here of the INDIA alliance, CPI(M) and the Congress, ever agreeing on seat-sharing". However, consensus for a common candidate can be reached in Tamil Nadu where the DMK is an ally with Congress, CPI, and CPI (M).

He emphasized that the crucial reminder for the people of this nation is to cast their vote for the most qualified individual in their constituency.

Tharoor added, "That's the best thing they can do, and if it so happens, and there is enough divergence of views, maybe the BJP candidate will win. But that's democracy in our first-past-the-post system". The most important thing that one needs to remind the people of this country is to vote for the best person in their constituency, he said.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday emerged as the consensus candidate for the post of chairperson of the opposition INDIA bloc, while Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's name was proposed for the convener's post.

However, the Bihar CM has not accepted the offer.