"Local Problems Will Be There, But...": S Jaishankar Confident Of Big Win

Prime Minister Modi's BJP is favoured to win a third consecutive term, for which it has set itself a target of 370+ Lok Sabha seats on its own and 400+ with NDA partners.

The 2024 Lok Sabha election is a national issue and people will vote from that perspective, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar told NDTV Thursday, brushing aside talk that regional issues - like the ethnic violence in Manipur or the southern states' tax devolution row - could impact the BJP's chances of claiming a third consecutive win.

"Local problems will be there but, in the end, when people vote, they will question if they believe in Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I do not know the exact numbers but can confidently say it will be more than you think. The BJP has a 10-year record and the public has a positive image of the future."

"This is the mood of the public and especially the youth," Mr Jaishankar said.