Modi-Led NDA Set for Third Term
The Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is on the brink of a historic third term, having secured 293 Lok Sabha seats across India. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a crucial component of the NDA, faced a substantial hurdle as it managed to secure only 240 seats, falling short of the 272-seat majority required to form the government independently. The BJP now heavily relies on its alliance partners, such as the TDP and JD(U), to bridge the gap.
Opposition’s Performance
The Opposition’s INDIA bloc, comprising the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), Trinamool Congress (TMC), and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), has made a significant and intriguing resurgence. Collectively, they won 232 seats. The Congress saw a remarkable comeback, winning 99 seats, while the SP increased its tally from 5 seats in 2019 to 37 in Uttar Pradesh. The TMC secured 29 seats in West Bengal, and the DMK led in 22 seats. The NCP, led by Sharad Pawar, won 7 seats, and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena secured nine seats. In Bihar, the RJD was ahead in 4 constituencies, with the AAP and JMM each leading in 3.
Setback for BJP
Despite securing a majority within the NDA, the BJP faced a significant setback, losing 63 seats compared to its 2019 tally of 303. The party had set ambitious targets of winning 370 seats and 400-plus for the NDA. However, it faced declines across various regions, including the critical heartland state of Uttar Pradesh. The BJP’s vote share also saw a dip, dropping from 37.7% to 36.56%.
Regional Performance
While the BJP did not win any seats in Tamil Nadu, it made history by securing its first-ever seat in Kerala and doubling its seats in Telangana from 4 to 8. These achievements, despite not meeting the party’s overall expectations, are significant and should be a source of pride for the BJP and its supporters.