National Democratic Alliance Secures Third Term

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Results: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set for a third term as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) edged closer to the 300-seat mark. The campaign has been long and voter sentiment challenging to predict in this election.

Highlights:

1. Victory Speech: From the BJP headquarters in Delhi, PM Modi thanked voters, calling the victory a triumph for the world's largest democracy.

2. Seat Tally: At 11 PM IST, BJP led in 241 seats, with the NDA at 294. The INDIA bloc led in 231 seats, with Congress ahead in 100.

3. Uttar Pradesh: The BJP's stronghold showed cracks, with the INDIA bloc leading in 44 of 80 seats, and the BJP in 32. This shift came despite predictions favouring the BJP.

4. Battleground States: Bengal and Maharashtra did not favour the BJP. In Bengal, BJP led in 12 seats, while Trinamool Congress led in 29. In Maharashtra, the Thackeray faction led in 9 seats, Shinde Sena in 7, Ajit Pawar's NCP in 1, Sharad Pawar's NCP in 7, BJP in 10, and Congress in 13.

5. Southern States: The BJP offset losses with wins in Odisha, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. In Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu's TDP led in 158 of 175 seats.

6. PM's Commitment: PM Modi tweeted his gratitude and commitment to continue fulfilling the people's aspirations.

7. Campaign Intensity: Exit polls varied, with some predicting a landslide for the NDA, but their accuracy remained questionable.

8. BJP's Strategy: The BJP's campaign focused on development, the economy, and a vision for India's future. It highlighted achievements like the scrapping of Article 370 and the construction of the Ayodhya Ram temple.

9. Opposition's Strategy: Unlike the disjointed opposition of 2019, this time they mounted a significant offensive, addressing issues like constitutional changes and reservation policies.

10. Future Outlook: The NDA's third consecutive term marks a significant moment in India's political history, with PM Modi pledging to continue the developmental work of the past decade.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spearheaded the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) campaign, which saw him participate in over 200 public meetings, including rallies and roadshows. Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc countered with joint rallies featuring Opposition leaders.

• Historical Context: This Lok Sabha election was the second-longest since India's first in 1951-52. A party or coalition needs 272 seats to form the government.
  
  
• Congress Alliances: Uddhav Thackeray revealed that Congress is in talks with Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu for a possible post-poll alliance. Thackeray emphasised that the alliance was formed to rule, not for the Prime Ministerial position.
  
  
• PM Acknowledges Bihar Ally Nitish Kumar 
  
  The Centre has pledged to ensure the development of states that participated in the recent Lok Sabha elections. "I assure the people of the four states that went to assembly polls that the Centre will leave no stone unturned for their development," said a government representative.
  
  Highlighting NDA's performance, he added, "Under Nitish Babu's leadership, the NDA fared well in Bihar. Ten years ago, there was a mandate for change. At that time, the country was in a state of depression and was part of the 'Fragile Five'. Corruption dominated newspaper headlines, and the youth were anxious about their future. The country entrusted us with the responsibility to restore hope. Our second term focused on development and providing guarantees."
  
  
• Election Outcomes: The results saw key leaders from various parties, including the BJP, dethroned. The Opposition bloc, INDIA, made a notable comeback, and the NDA fell short of its ambitious "400-paar" target.