BJP to suffer net loss of seats this polls: Report

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SME Times News Bureau | 16 May, 2019
A new report has claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to suffer a net loss of seats in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, but will still emerge as the single largest party.

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) report expects the BJP to form a coalition government after the election results are out on May 23 with the support of the regional parties and incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi will secure a second term in office.

The EIU expects at least three regional parties -- the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) -- to back the next BJP-led government at the Centre.

"The presence of coalition partners will help prevent the sort of disruptive and poorly considered policy making that was seen on occasion during the BJP's previous term," the report said.

Besides, the coalition partners in the government will prove to be a check on the BJP's right-wing Hindu nationalist instincts.

According to Shreyans Bhaskar, a research analyst with the EIU, "The need to keep coalition allies sweet will pressure the next government into raising public expenditure, which will add to the fiscal strains created by the government's populist election pledges".

"As the BJP seeks to keep relations with its coalition partners smooth, the influence of the BJP's right-wing Hindu affiliates and allies will be diminished in the next administration," the EIU said.