NEW DELHI: The year 2023 was described as the year of semifinals in Indian politics. The newly formed INDI alliance and the Bharat Jodo Yatra that reaped dividends after drawing big crowds were deemed fit to give a pummeling to the BJP in the three crucial state elections in the Hindi Heartland. All such beaming hopes were dashed after the saffron party with its numero uno PM Modi in business, thwarted the anti-incumbency factor and gifted BJP a much-revitalizing win ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

However, things can turn topsy-turvy in no time, and Congress along with the INDI alliance can do the trick and can tame the beast in the impending 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The year 2024 will see political manoeuvring, a war of words and demagoguery of an unseen nature, as the fight for 2024 is burning the political cauldron in India.

In 2014, the BJP rose to power in a Modi wave that seeped all across the country. The amount of corruption and the desultory governance of Congress paved the way for BJP to wrest power in 2014. However, in 2019, without much to account for the Modi wave, the BJP grabbed 303 seats and it gave shivers to opponents. The new India that PM Modi envisioned was a blend of religious nationalism with development, and the people were falling for it without any second thought. And come to 2024, the Congress and other allies have tried all knacks from their political playbook but are still struggling to overcome the might of the Prime Minister of India. If it was the ‘Chowkidaar’ chants which were used by the BJP in 2019, it has now morphed into ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ in 2024.

Atmanirbhar Bharat, Vocal for Local (promotion of local products) and growth of start-ups, including the overhaul in the defence sector add to BJP's adept governance while the opposition is still clinging to vague calls of unemployment, Rafale and the never-ending fixation about PM’s apprehension to hold a press meet.

The government is also investing in basic development projects. Whatever platform the Prime Minister speaks at, he reiterates the reforms he has implemented since 2014, the schemes and the differences from previous governments.

BJP aims for a sweep in Uttar Pradesh and other Hindi heartlands in the 2024 elections with their trump card, which is Ram Temple's inauguration. The inauguration will bring more votes from states like UP where religion is intertwined with politics.

On another note, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is preparing for a new Yatra from Manipur to Mumbai. Rahul meanwhile has rejected the opportunity to become the PM candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and he opted out of the race paving the way for other leaders. However, the congress wants to picture Rahul as the PM candidate and will work some shrewd ways to come up with a last-minute twist which will either sit well with the INDI alliance or may shatter the alliance into fragments.

Anyway, January 2024, will be a prelude to how India will vote in May 2024. Congress needs to show political etiquette during the revered Ram Temple inauguration ceremony or else will have to suffer the pain.