2024 Lok Sabha Election Results: Modi 3.0 or I.N.D.I.A Shining? Counting Today

The Lok Sabha Election 2024 will see the counting of votes beginning at 8 am, with the majority mark set at 272. Additionally, the counting of votes for assembly elections in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh will also take place on the same day. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is aiming to make significant gains in states such as Bengal, Odisha, and the southern states, to counterbalance any potential losses in the northern region, where it holds a dominant position. Other key battleground states are Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana.

Exit polls have predicted a 400-plus score for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with differing opinions regarding the margin of victory, which has been criticized by the Opposition. Previous exit polls in the country have had varied success rates. The ruling coalition’s accomplishments, including the revocation of Article 370 and the construction of the Ayodhya Ram temple, have been highlighted. Furthermore, the Opposition has significantly intensified its offensive against the ruling coalition, reflecting a noticeable shift from the lack of cohesion observed in 2019.

Changes in the political landscape have been observed since 2019, with Maharashtra being at the center of the shake-up. The NDA ally Shiv Sena exited the alliance and joined the Opposition ranks, while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) split, with factions aligning themselves with different groups. Allegations have arisen regarding the use of central investigative agencies to target key opposition leaders, casting a shadow over the election. This election presents a departure from the trends of the last decade, as there is an absence of a distinctive wave or public anger.

However, pockets of discontent regarding local issues such as unemployment and inflation have been noticeable in certain parts of the country. Additionally, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), a subject of contention for the Opposition, have received backing from the Supreme Court, which has firmly rejected a return to ballot papers. Security concerns related to EVM storage units have been raised by the Opposition, with allegations of instances such as temporary shutdown of CCTV cameras and mismatched numbers in EVM units.