Jaishankar says PM Modi is only leader who can deliver 'Viksit Bharat', 'navigate India through global turmoil'

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) performance in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, citing the party's image as one of change. In an exclusive interview with News18, Jaishankar emphasized that no election is easy, but the BJP is poised for a solid showing.

People's Perception: BJP Seen as Party of Change

"People see BJP as a party of change. We are confident that we are going to show a very solid performance," Jaishankar stated. He explained that the '400 paar' target was carefully considered and not arbitrary. "When the idea of 370 seats for BJP and 400 paar for NDA was done, a lot of thought was put into it. That 370 and 400 is very much in people's mind," he added.

Confidence in PM Modi: Only Leader Who Can Deliver 'Viksit Bharat'

Jaishankar expressed voters' faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him the only leader capable of leading the nation towards 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047. "Voters have full faith in PM Modi. He is the only national leader who is ready to lead the country. The Prime Minister can navigate India through global turmoil," he affirmed.

Potential Seat Gains: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Other States

Jaishankar highlighted the BJP's growing prospects in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Odisha. "I visited Kerala and I saw a degree of enthusiasm and energy there which I have not seen before. I am confident we will pick up seats there. I have heard similar positive things about Tamil Nadu as well. There was an outpour of support in Telangana. In Odisha, people see BJP as a party of change," he explained.

Overall NDA Performance: Positive Outlook

Assessing the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) performance, Jaishankar predicted success in Andhra Pradesh. "Those numbers (370 and 400) were not concocted out of nothing. There is a target to which people are waiting which has been broken down into states. We have a sense of exactly which are the ones where we really need to put in all that effort," he concluded.