Modi’s Options If He Loses 2019 Mandate

What will Narendra Modi do if BJP loses the Lok Sabha elections in 2019?

In its opinion column, news portal The Print presented hypothesis and possibilities Modi and his trusted lieutenant Amit Shah could take recourse to; one of them being picking a leader from anti-BJP, and anti-Congress front such as Naveen Patnaik, who could then be controlled by them.

The second could be supporting a front from outside, only to pull the plug for a fresh mandate which could see BJP coming back to power. Yet, a third version — “apocalyptic” though — would see polarising the voters by creating a Kargil-like small war which could generate euphoria and help Modi.

What if the party fails to secure more than 200 seats or stays below 150? Will Modi then sit in the opposition benches, declare retirement, rebuild the party or confront all kinds of cases.

The next 100 days are indeed crucial and cause for worry and, perhaps, hope!, the opinion piece summed up.