Election Results 2024: NDA Emerges Victorious
NDA Secures Majority
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has secured 292 seats, surpassing the 272-seat majority needed to form the government. The Opposition alliance, INDIA, put up an intense fight, winning 232 seats.
Tight Contest in Uttar Pradesh
Despite the NDA’s overall victory, the BJP faced stiff competition from the INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh, highlighting a broader ideological battle across the country.
Campaign Highlights
Poll pundits had predicted a third term for PM Narendra Modi, but the INDIA bloc’s resilience defied these expectations. The BJP’s campaign was spearheaded by PM Modi, who participated in over 200 public meetings, rallies, and roadshows. In contrast, the INDIA bloc’s campaign featured joint rallies by Opposition leaders.
Vote Counting Process
The counting of votes started at 8 am under tight security, with the counting of EVM votes beginning 30 minutes after the postal ballots. This year’s Lok Sabha election was one of the longest since India’s first election in 1951-52.
Government Formation
- Dissolution of 17th Lok Sabha: President Droupadi Murmu will dissolve the 17th Lok Sabha upon receiving the Cabinet’s recommendation. The Cabinet will meet tomorrow to discuss this single agenda item.
- Constitution of 18th Lok Sabha: Once the Election Commission submits the list of MPs, the President will begin the process of constituting the 18th Lok Sabha. She will then invite the single-largest party, the NDA, to form the government, which must prove its majority in the Lok Sabha within a month or less.
INDIA Bloc’s Strategy
The INDIA bloc is reaching out to like-minded parties to form a coalition government and is attempting to woo NDA allies like Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu.
Key Reactions and Events
Trinamool Congress Meeting
Abhishek Banerjee, National General Secretary of the Trinamool Congress, will attend the INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi tomorrow to discuss future strategies.
Owaisi’s Criticism of BJP
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi attributed the BJP’s performance to its “hate politics” and “false promises” over the last decade. Owaisi, who won the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat for the fifth consecutive term, has vowed to support efforts to prevent PM Modi from securing a third term.
“We have publicly taken a stand to stop BJP,” Owaisi said, claiming that the public is fed up with the BJP’s politics, unemployment, and farmer distress. He remarked that if Modi forms the government, it will be with the support of allies, making for an interesting political scenario.