2014: War for seats, allies begin

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For more than a year, the yellow fever vaccine has not been manufactured because a freezer-drier to preserve the vaccine has been out of order

Patralekha Chatterjee [1]

New Delhi: A tactical war has broken out between the Congress and the BJP over the forthcoming 2014 general election. While the Congress is mustering its forces to get a minimum of 150 seats, the BJP is working furiously to achieve a target of a minimum 190 seats.
In the coalition era, if the Congress is confident of romping home with a minimum of 150 seats, BJP spin doctors feel the party needs at least 190 seats to return to power.
In the numbers game, the Congress has already consolidated its ties with the DMK and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, initiated back-channel talks with the TRS for a pre-poll alliance and with the YSR Congress for a post-poll tie-up.
The BJP’s hunt for allies is becoming tougher with Hindutva icon Narendra Modi at the helm, sources said. So far, only the AIADMK has sent signals to the saffron brigade.
The saffron outfit is facing mutiny within its ranks over signals to project Modi as its PM candidate. There is not only an undercurrent brewing over the move among the senior leaders, a revolt has also broken out in the BJP’s Bihar unit.
If the Congress is trying to consolidate the Muslim vote bank, particularly in UP, the BJP’s UP leaders are upset at the interference in state politics by Modi’s trusted man, BJP general secretary in charge of the state Amit Shah.
Also, with the CBI sword hanging over Shah, a section in the BJP has already begun a tacit exercise to dislodge him from the state, sources said.
While the BJP is projecting Modi, the Congress intends to attract voters with its reform measures. The Food Security Bill, Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme, Land Acquisition Bill, Insurance Bill, Pension Bill, Companies Bill and Direct Taxes Code Bill are some legislation the UPA is expected to bring during the monsoon session.