"Dakshin mein double...uttar mein opposition in even more trouble": Jaishankar exudes confidence for BJP's huge win

New Delhi [India], May 24 : Exuding confidence in Bharatiya Janata Party's third consecutive win in the Lok Sabha polls, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the BJP would be making huge strides in the southern states while doubling its hold on the northern states.
Trashing Opposition parties' claim that BJP will be 'Dakshin mein saaf aur uttar mein half' (rout in the south, and half in the north), Jaishankar said that the Modi government will return to power with an even bigger majority.
"I think from our point of view...for us, it (BJP) would be dakshin mein double (twice in the south), and for the Opposition, I would say uttar mein even more trouble," he stated.
On being asked about BJP's '400 paar' slogan, Jaishankar acknowledged that this is an 'ambitious target' but said that the number has not been floated just like that, and there is a huge calculation behind it.
He added that BJP leaders were advised to visit constituencies the party hadn't won in 2019, and look into what changes need to be made and what needs to be done for winning those seats.
"This is the BJP you are talking about. There is a kind of process, an exercise out of which an outcome is produced...we had actually done this exercise, which were the seats we did not win in the 2019 election, what should we do to try and win those seats? Among them, what looks more likely? What are the changes we need to make?" the EAM further stated.
Prime Minister Modi and other party leaders have claimed that BJP would win 370 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will win over 400 seats.
Further affirming confidence in BJP's strong performance in the polls, the EAM said that BJP is going to improve its tally in Bengal, Odisha, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Punjab.
He also cited his visits to several states such as Kerala, Odisha for the election campaign, where Jaishankar said he received a "very strong" upsurge and enthusiasm.
"I can see definitely in the South much, much greater support and much greater enthusiasm than I have ever seen," he said.
"I think we will definitely pick up many more seats in the south...we feel very confident that in Bengal, in Odisha, in Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, we will, my sense is Punjab, we will pick up what is UP. So look, if anybody who sits with the numbers, I think there is a calculation out there," Jaishankar added.
Regarding the Opposition's predictions of seats in the elections, the EAM pointed out that these parties are not "great election predictors".
He also made an apparent reference to the case of Puri, where the Congress candidate withdrew nomination and Surat, where the BJP candidate won unopposed.
"I can go to their own predictions at various elections, including the last elections. Please look at what they said and what actually happened. So, they're not exactly great election result predictors," Jaishankar said.
"Obviously, in the middle of an election, if a set of parties are losing, what can they tell people...These are parties, many of them, either candidates have left the field. I mean, forget about supporters coming."
The Lok Sabha elections are being held across seven phases. While the first five phases are over, the remaining two phases are scheduled on May 25 and June 1.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP is aiming to return to power for a third straight term, the Opposition under the umbrella of the INDIA bloc is trying to wrest power from the ruling party.