Are Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018 Semi-finals for 2019 Lok Sabha Polls?

In 2014, PM Narendra Modi led NDA stormed in to power with an absolute majority. Since then, BJP has been successful in keeping the momentum going. As of today BJP led governments are in power in 22 states either on their own or along with a coalition partner. After the completion of 3 years in power, all the opinion polls and surveys that were conducted by various private media houses had concluded that PM Modi by-far remained the most popular leader in India. The consensus was that if the Lok Sabha elections were held then, the BJP would again form the government at the center with ease. But lately much has changed or at least the opposition would like to believe so. On 26th May 2018, the Modi government will complete 4 years in power and things are fast becoming challenging for the BJP.

The BJP led NDA government has come under pressure and severe criticism on many fronts recently. Farmer agitations, distress in the agricultural sector and failure to generate enough jobs are the primary concerns on which the government is perceived to be unsuccessful by many. The opposition would also like to believe that after being 4 years in power a certain fatigue would have crept in and that people would be yearning for a change, especially after non-deliverance on tall promises and ‘acche din’. Before the Gujarat assembly elections, it was believed that the next general election which is due in 2019 was a done deal for the BJP. But with the recent resurgence of Congress and the regional outfits in the Gujarat assembly elections and recent by-polls, BJP definitely has reasons to worry.

Lately the opposition has also realised that to take on the might of the BJP they will have to keep aside their differences and come together. There are even talks that the Modi government may even call for an early general election. In the said scenario, the next 16 months have become extremely significant for all political parties.