In a surprising turn, the Opposition’s INDIA bloc has made substantial gains in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, already surpassing the 200-seat mark—a significant improvement from their 2019 performance. However, early trends suggest that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is still on track to retain power, having crossed the crucial 272-seat majority.
Key battlegrounds like Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal were leaning towards the NDA, bolstering hopes of reaching their ambitious 400-seat target but TMC leads. These states could be pivotal in this quest.
High-profile candidates are faring well across the board. Rahul Gandhi leads in Wayanad, while in a tight race in Thiruvananthapuram, BJP’s Rajiv Chandrasekhar is ahead of Congress stalwart Shashi Tharoor. Prime Minister Modi maintains a strong lead in Varanasi, and Akhilesh Yadav is frontrunner in Kannauj.
As the count progresses, all eyes are on the postal ballots, often a game-changer. Should current trends hold, Modi would join Jawaharlal Nehru as the only Prime Minister to secure a third consecutive term.
This marathon election saw voting across 543 constituencies in seven phases. Concurrent counts are underway for state assemblies in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
The counting of votes began at 8 a.m. under tight security measures across the nation. After an initial 30-minute focus on postal ballots, officials commenced tallying the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) counts, which are expected to provide a clearer picture of the results by midday.
This year’s Lok Sabha election has been more than just a political contest; it represents a broader ideological battle between the BJP’s nationalist agenda and the secular, inclusive vision promoted by the Opposition’s INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) bloc. The Congress party, despite being weakened by successive electoral defeats and high-profile defections, remains a key player in this opposition coalition.