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

The day belonged to the resurgent Opposition, which exceeded the modest expectations raised by exit polls. At 8 pm, the BJP led on 241 seats, with the NDA on 291. The INDIA bloc was ahead on 232 seats, while the Congress was on 100.

The BJP’s stronghold in the heartland state of Uttar Pradesh seems to have been upset, with the INDIA bloc, consisting of Samajwadi Party and the Congress, leading in 44 of 80 seats at 7 pm, compared to the BJP’s 32. In Bengal, the BJP’s hopes did not materialize, leading in only 11 seats at 3 pm, while Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress was ahead in 31 seats. Maharashtra also signaled disapproval of the political maneuvers, with the Uddhav Thackeray faction leading on 11 seats and the BJP neck and neck with the Congress.

The BJP’s losses were being offset in Odisha, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and to a lesser extent, Telangana, with Chandrababu Naidu heading for a landslide victory in Andhra Pradesh and the BJP’s resounding victory in Odisha. PM Modi expressed gratitude to the people for their faith in the NDA and promised to continue fulfilling their aspirations. The Opposition rejected the exit poll predictions and highlighted the impact of their offensive against the ruling coalition.

While the initial contest was shaky in some areas, the narrative on a change in constitution and scrapping of reservation made an impact, showing a significant shift from the lack of cohesiveness in 2019.