Bigger regional parties mum on joining BJP: Vinod Sharma

The weekend left the Congress red faced when Congressman and retired IAS officer Bhagirath Prasad joined the beeline to migrate to the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) . Last week Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party sought to ally with the BJP strengthening the NDA camp

Speaking to Anuj Singhal and Ekta Batra on CNBC-TV18, Vinod Sharma, political editor at Hindustan Times analyzed that despite the new alliances, none of the bigger regional parties like the Trinamul Congress or the AIADMK have offered to ally with Narendra Modi's party. Instead they are projecting their own Prime Ministerial candidates which may be forcing the BJP into realising that it may not be able to garner absolute majority on its own.

Meanwhile, inter-party differences in the BJP over Varanasi Lok Sabha seat has surfaced. Although senior party leader Murli Manohar Joshi downplayed reports that he disapproves Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi contesting from Varanasi, all eyes are now on the BJP's meet on the March 13 where a decision will be taken on seats in Uttar Pradesh. Sharma said the Varanasi seat's importance lies in two factors — it is residing in all-important eastern UP and its proximity to Bihar. He said Modi contesting the seat will improve BJP's prospects in eastern UP.

Amid speculation of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal contesting against Modi, Sharma says the party's canvassing style appeals tolower and  middle-class urban electorate, but not the urban middle class. The AAP phenomenon is yet to blossom and the party can be judged closer to elections, Sharma said adding most of its candidates are first-timers or have lost previous Lok Sabha polls.