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

The INDIA bloc, comprising the Samajwadi Party and INDIA, currently holds a slender lead over NDA in a closely contested fight as of around 11 am. In other battleground states, the BJP is trailing in West Bengal and Maharashtra. These trends are early and there are still many rounds of counting left.

The voting for 543 Lok Sabha seats took place over seven phases, concluding on Saturday, with the majority mark set at 272. Simultaneously, the counting of votes for assembly elections in two states, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, is also ongoing. In Andhra Pradesh, the TDP led by Chandrababu Naidu is currently leading, while in Odisha, BJP has taken a lead over the ruling BJD.

The BJP is aiming to make significant gains in Bengal, Odisha, and the southern states to offset any potential losses in the north, where it currently holds dominance. Other key battleground states include Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana. Three exit polls have predicted a 400-plus score for the BJP-led NDA, with differing opinions on the margin of victory.

The Opposition has dismissed these conclusions, citing the mixed success of exit polls in the country’s history. The ruling coalition’s promises met, such as the scrapping of Article 370 and the construction of the Ayodhya Ram temple, have potentially influenced the election narrative. The political landscape has seen significant changes compared to 2019, especially in Maharashtra, where the NDA ally Shiv Sena walked out of the alliance and joined the Opposition ranks, while the NCP, led by Sharad Pawar, split, with factions joining different alliances.

The election is also happening under the shadow of allegations about the Central investigative agencies being used to target key leaders of the Opposition.