BJP banks on Modi factor, BRS rebels to counter Congress guarantees

The opposition BJP in Telangana is aiming to improve on its previous tally of four out of 17 seats in the May 13 Lok Sabha polls, despite the ruling Congress party's guarantees. A larger tally would help the BJP establish a firm foothold in another southern state, aside from Karnataka, and aim for a win in the assembly in the coming years. Political analysts believe pro-BJP sentiment is on the rise in the state, especially in urban areas, amid heavy campaigning by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, party president JP Nadda, and Union minister Smriti Irani.