Opposition needs leader with pan-national appeal to challenge Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strengthened himself in the last eight years, to such an extent in his party and outside that the gap in popularity between him and other probable prime ministerial aspirants comes no way closer to him.
He is all set for a third term in 2024. About 53 percent of respondents in the Mood of the Nation poll conducted by India Today and C voter last week favoured Modi as the next prime minister.
The Opposition has failed miserably in challenging Modi in 2014 and 2019. The recent president and vice president election has shown the Opposition’s disarray while the BJP has geared up its poll machinery. The focus has shifted from “Modi vs Who” to “only Modi for 2024.” So Modi had the field to himself.
Interestingly, after Modi entered the national scene eight years ago, the campaign-style became that of an American Presidential poll. That is why there is so much talk about the 2024 polls when it is two years away.
Political forces could realign before the next Lok Sabha polls. Reaching a consensus on the prime ministerial candidate has been difficult, with the regional satraps pulling in different directions. Modi was a political leader who gave hope in 2014; he projected himself as a nationalist leader in 2019 and would be launched in 2024 as the most famous leader of India.
The Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared at the recent BJP National Executive meeting that Modi would be the NDA’s Prime Ministerial candidate. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who has won a second term, has asked his state to bag at least 75 of the 80 seats in the state for 2024 polls.