Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to return for a third term in a fiercely contested Lok Sabha election. Despite facing strong opposition from the India bloc, the BJP-led NDA coalition has secured around 290 seats, falling short of their target of over 400. The opposition INDIA bloc, revitalized and competitive, is ahead in 235 seats.

BJP’s Performance and Opposition Gains

The BJP, which aims for 370 seats, is leading with 243, missing the majority mark of 272. This is a significant decrease from the exit poll forecasts. The Congress, on the other hand, is on track to win over 95 seats, a substantial increase from their 2019 tally of 52 seats. Other regional outfits and independents are in the lead with 18 seats.

During a press conference, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge hailed the results as a mandate against Prime Minister Modi, describing it as both a political and moral defeat for the BJP. The NDA’s vote share has decreased to approximately 46% from over 50% in 2019. The India bloc has gained, securing around 41% of the vote share.

Key States: Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Maharashtra

In the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, the India bloc is ahead in 44 out of 80 seats, while the BJP is leading in 35 seats. The Congress and Samajwadi Party, allies in the India bloc, are leading by eight and 36 seats, respectively.

West Bengal saw a tight race between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP. Early trends showed a neck-and-neck fight, but the TMC pulled ahead, leading by 28 seats. The BJP is leading in 12 seats.

In Maharashtra, the India bloc is gaining ground, leading in 30 out of 48 constituencies. The ruling coalition, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, is ahead in 17 seats, far below their target of 45-plus seats.

Hot Seats and Notable Wins

Union Minister Smriti Irani conceded defeat in Amethi, a seat she had won from Rahul Gandhi in 2019. Congress candidate Kishori Lal leads by over 165,926 votes.

In Thiruvananthapuram, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar conceded to Congress’s Shashi Tharoor, who was leading by 16,077 votes. Rahul Gandhi won by a landslide in Kerala’s Wayanad, securing 364,422 votes more than his nearest rival, CPI’s Annie Raja. Gandhi is also the leader in Rae Bareli.

Prime Minister Modi defeated Congress candidate Ajay Rai in Varanasi, winning by a margin of 152,513 votes. In Baramati, NCP candidate Supriya Sule is leading with 78,141 votes, ahead of her sister-in-law, Sunetra Pawar.

In Mandi, BJP candidate and actor Kangana Ranaut defeated Congress’s Vikramaditya Singh by 74,755 votes. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah conceded to Independent candidate Abdul Rashid Sheikh, who is leading by 134,705 votes.

Marathon Lok Sabha Elections Set Records

This election, the largest in terms of voter eligibility, saw 96.8 crore people eligible to vote. Despite the scorching heatwave, India set a world record with 64.2 crore voters, including 31.2 crore women, casting their votes. Seven phases conducted the voting for the 543-member Lok Sabha from April 19 to June 1.

Andhra Pradesh and Odisha Assembly Results

The NDA significantly defeated the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), which is under the leadership of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, in Andhra Pradesh. The tri-party alliance of the TDP, BJP, and Jana Sena Party is leading in over 150 of the 175 assembly seats. The TDP announced that Chandrababu Naidu would take the oath as Chief Minister on June 9, with PM Modi attending the ceremony.

In Odisha, the BJP made significant gains, crossing the halfway mark and leading in 66 constituencies. The ruling BJD is leading in 42 seats, with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik trailing in Kantabanji but leading in Hinjili.

What Exit Polls Predicted?

Exit polls predicted a sweeping victory for the BJP-led NDA, with projections of up to 401 seats. However, the NDA is hovering around the 290-mark. In West Bengal, the BJP, initially outperforming the TMC, is now behind, leading in 12 out of 42 seats.

How BJP, Congress Fared in 2019?

In the 2019 elections, the NDA won by a landslide, securing 353 seats. The BJP won 303 seats, surpassing its 2014 tally. The Congress won 52 seats, a slight improvement from 44 seats in 2014. The 2019 election saw a voter turnout of 67.11%, the highest ever recorded.

The results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections underscore the dynamic and competitive nature of Indian politics, with significant gains for the opposition and a strong, albeit reduced, performance by the ruling coalition.