India, April 28 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party appears to have reviewed its narrative mid-way through the ongoing elections, and instead of dwelling on its claims about development and related issues, has sharpened its attacks on the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi. The objective is clearly to make it a Modi versus Rahul confrontation, even though the Congress has repeatedly said that it was not in the contention for the position of Prime Minister. In the past two polls, the BJP got a head start over its adversaries after its candidates were successful in virtually 90% of seats where the two national parties were pitted against each other in a straight combat.

This time around, the Congress is faring better than earlier occasions, an...