Exit Polls 2019: PM Modi, Amit Shah played test match; Rahul Gandhi’s T-20 strategy failed

Perils of T-20 approach

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lead NDA went for the general elections with a test match approach—BJP President Amit Shah kept juggling with the changing realities—and finally managed to put a huge score on the political scoreboard. No wonder most of the exit polls have given NDA comfortable majority to form the government. Congress President Rahul Gandhi though managed to attract sporadic attention with his sixes and fours on social media and during public rallies, but his T-20 match approach didn’t help him make claim to significant numbers of seats that could help him salvage his reputation.

Virat Kohli led Indian squad for the Cricket World Cup 2019 is being questioned for not putting in long hours of practice together as a team in the months leading to this big event in the history of cricket. How that will impact India’s performance in the world cup is yet to be seen. But, it appears, last minute (read last months) hard work has not given Rahul Gandhi a winning edge, if we go by exit polls results in 2019.

Strength of organisation matters

BJP President Amit Shah was in election mode for 2019, even before celebrations for 2014 victory got over. BJP started working on strengthening organisation at every level, interaction happened on regular intervals, Modi-Shah kept engaging with them which helped the cadre remain fighting fit to win an election. When a booth level worker knows his or her role and achievement of the party, it’s a matter of time when the message gets communicated to the voters.

Perception matters

During the last five years, Narendra Modi kept making efforts to connect with the masses and party workers at various levels. Be it ‘Mann ki Baat’, special broadcasts, or Live interaction with party workers through NaMo app or any other digital platform, Modi was seen reaching out to all and sundry. He may not have succeeded in fulfilling many expectations he raised in 2014, but he was seen as a man making an effort to deliver. On the other side, the Opposition leaders were seen concentrating their energies on “getting rid of Narendra Modi”. Why on earth would a common man bother about dislodging Narendra Modi? His or her priority is food, water, electricity, home, jobs and security. Modi may not have done fairly good on all the parameters, but he was perceived as making efforts, but the Opposition was not able to communicate the plan to bring about a change in the lives of the voters.

Early alliance- respect for reality

Long back Modi-Shah realised the importance of the pre-poll alliance and announced an alliance with Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) which has given NDA huge advance in Bihar as per the exit poll results. BJP managed to keep Shiv Sena in the NDA fold and that again communicated a positive message among the allies.

One face one message

NDA has Narendra Modi as their Prime Minister but the collective Opposition could not come out with one name which made the entire Opposition look "faceless", believe many experts. Modi kept repeating one message: Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.

The NDA spoke in one voice and moved like a team. The Opposition had many good players with an impeccable track record, but the squad never played like a team as they really did not practice enough as a team.

Virak Kohli and his team also faces the same challenge: Big names in the team, but can they play as a team. The players may start playing together from May 24, but the big question is: Is this enough before the World Cup?

This was not enough for the Opposition.