The Election Commission of India has released results of 2024 Election for 542 of the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies, indicating a victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). With the BJP winning 240 seats, falling short of the majority mark, the NDA, with the support of key allies, clinched the necessary seats to form the government for a third consecutive term.
Despite facing setbacks in three Hindi heartland states, the BJP emerged as the single largest party in 2024 Election results, with candidates rallying behind the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. The party’s performance, however, saw a dip compared to its landslide victories in 2019 and 2014, winning 303 and 282 seats respectively. This time, the BJP required the backing of allies within the NDA to secure a majority.
The Congress, part of the opposition INDIA bloc, made gains by securing 99 seats, a significant increase from the 52 seats it won in 2019. The party’s success was notable in states like Rajasthan and Haryana, where it chipped away at the BJP’s share.
In Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party buoyed the INDIA bloc’s prospects by securing 37 seats, while in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) outperformed its 2019 tally, winning 29 seats. The BJP, although making strides in the state, fell short of its expectations, securing 12 seats compared to the 18 it won previously.
The election results deviated from the landslide victory projected by exit polls, indicating a more balanced outcome. With over 640 million votes cast, the Indian general elections stand as the largest democratic exercise globally, conducted over seven phases from April 19 to June 1.
The stage is set for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to embark on his third term, with the BJP-led NDA poised to govern the world’s largest democracy amidst evolving political dynamics and challenges.