2024 Lok Sabha Election Results: PM Poised for Landmark 3rd Term, Hails “Victory of Largest Democracy

The day belonged to the resurgent Opposition, which exceeded the modest expectations raised by exit polls. At 11 pm, the BJP was ahead on 241 seats, the NDA on 294, the INDIA bloc on 231 seats, and the Congress on 100. The BJP appeared to have been upset by the heartland state of Uttar Pradesh, with the INDIA bloc – Samajwadi Party and the Congress – leading in 44 of 80 seats. The BJP was leading on 32 seats.

The BJP’s performance in Uttar Pradesh was unexpected as it had previously swept the state in 2014 and held its ground in 2019. Most exit polls had predicted an edge for the party. The BJP also faced challenges in other battleground states. In West Bengal, the party was leading in only 12 seats at 11 pm, while Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress was ahead in 29 seats.

Maharashtra also showed disapproval of political maneuverings, with the Uddhav Thackeray faction leading on 9 seats and the Congress on 13. The BJP’s losses were being offset from Odisha, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and to an extent, Telangana. In Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu was heading for a landslide victory, leading in 158 of 175 constituencies. In Odisha, the BJP won a resounding victory, ending the 25-year run of Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal.

PM Modi tweeted, “People have placed their faith in NDA for a third consecutive time. I bow to the Janata Janardan for this affection and assure them that we will continue the good work done in the last decade to keep fulfilling the aspirations of the people.” Three exit polls predicted a 400-plus score for the BJP-led NDA. The rest differed only in the margin of the NDA victory, which the Opposition has trashed.

Exit polls have always had a mixed success in the country. The promises met, such as the scrapping of Article 370 and the construction of the Ayodhya Ram temple, have made a big difference. Additionally, the Opposition’s offensive against the ruling coalition was a long way from the lack of cohesiveness of 2019. While the beginning was shaky and patchy in parts, the narrative on a change in constitution and scrapping of reservation made an impact.