The big battle for 2019 has begun with the first phase of elections in which votes were cast in 91 constituencies across 20 states and Union territories on Thursday, 11 April.
However, as we inch towards the second phase of polls, the question is – what has this election come down to? Is it a seat-by-seat battle or a referendum on PM Narendra Modi. Is it about the BJP versus the united Opposition or is it about the voter issues?
Speaking of issues, another big question is – does this election comes down to a pitch between national security and jobs?
Speaking to Bloomberg Quint’s Tamanna Inamdar, BJP Spokesperson, Zafar Islam said the agenda of the people is “whether the country is in safe hands,” and that’s why the issue of national security takes precedence.
“Issue of national security is people’s agenda and that’s why they have to take priority in our manifesto. But all the other issues that common man needs have also been addressed.”Zafar Islam, BJP Spokesperson
However, Congress Spokesperson cross-questioned Islam on the party’s claims and said that the BJP has failed even on the front of national security.
“There are bigger issues in the country but BJP likes to tell the people of this country that the people are safe. However, Pulwama happened and 45 of our CRPF jawans were killed by a homegrown terrorist. It was an Indian citizen, a local Kashmiri whom the Pakistanis infiltrated and made into a hard core terrorist. This is the failure of our own kashmir policy,” Jha said adding that the “number of terrorist incidents have gone are up by 176 percent” in the last five years.
Other Issues More Important Than National Security
Madhavan Narayanan, senior journalist and commentator, another panelist added that both the parties – BJP and Congress – should be preapared for “surprises,” adding that there is no clear wave in this election.
He also said that as we move away from Delhi and towards the south, there are issues which are more important than national security.
Giving credit where it’s due, Narayanan added that Modi’s government has been able to keep inflation under control and the middle class has got some stability, but that’s because farmers dues haven’t been paid.
He said that these are the issues which will play out and a lot of it will depend on different states and constituencies.
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