Having firmed up alliances in several key states for the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP has taken an early lead over its rivals, including the main opposition, Congress. While the BJP has had uneasy relations at times with some of its allies, party president Amit Shah reportedly walked the extra mile to ensure they remained in the ruling National Democratic Alliance by offering them a generous seat-sharing deal, as in Bihar, and by accommodating most of their concerns.

In a big state like Tamil Nadu also, where the BJP has remained a minor player so far, it has risen into reckoning by stitching an alliance with the ruling AIADMK and by working on smaller Dravidian parties to join the NDA.