As the dust settles on the 2024 Lok Sabha election, it is clear that the political landscape of India is undergoing a seismic shift. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) may be poised for a third term in office, but the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) is not far behind, throwing a spanner in the works of the ruling party's plans for a landslide victory.
One of the biggest surprises of this election is the performance of the INDIA bloc in key battleground states such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. In Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party has emerged as a strong contender, leading the charge for the INDIA alliance. In Maharashtra, the race is neck and neck between the NDA and the INDIA alliance, making it a nail-biting finish.
While the NDA is putting up a strong fight in states like Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, where they are leading in the polls, the INDIA alliance is not backing down. Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is making gains in Andhra Pradesh, while the BJP is facing stiff competition from Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha.
The outcome of this election is still uncertain, with both alliances vying for the magic number of 272 seats to form the next government of India. Will the NDA manage to secure a third term in office, or will the INDIA alliance pull off an upset and emerge victorious?
- Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh has always been a key player in the Indian political landscape, and the ongoing general elections in the state are proving to be no different. In the past two general elections, Uttar Pradesh has been a significant stronghold for the BJP, but this time around, things are looking a lot more competitive.
With the NDA and the INDIA bloc, which includes the Samajwadi Party and Congress, locked in an intense battle, every seat in Uttar Pradesh is crucial. According to the latest Election Commission data, the INDIA bloc is currently ahead in 45 seats, while the NDA is leading in just 34 seats. This marks a major shift from the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, where the BJP-led NDA secured 62 out of the state's 80 seats.
One of the most closely watched battles in Uttar Pradesh is in Amethi, where Rahul Gandhi lost to Smriti Irani in the previous election. This time around, Irani is trailing behind Congress's Kishori Lal Sharma, a loyalist of the Gandhi family. The outcome of this race will not only have a significant impact on the state but also on the prestige of the Congress party.
Another interesting development in this election is the performance of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which is contesting independently this time. Initial indications do not suggest a significant performance from the BSP, indicating a potential shift in the political landscape of the state.
As the most populous state in India, Uttar Pradesh holds immense significance in the Lok Sabha. With a total of 80 seats up for grabs, every vote counts in this closely contested battle between the NDA and the INDIA bloc.
- Maharashtra
The political landscape in Maharashtra is heating up as the state witnesses a tight race between the NDA and the INDIA bloc in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. With the INDIA alliance currently leading in 30 seats, including 11 seats for Congress, 11 for Shiv Sena, and 8 for NCP, the NDA is trailing behind with leads in only 17 seats, including 11 for BJP, 5 for Shiv Sena, and 1 for NCP.
The political scenario in Maharashtra took an unexpected turn with splits within Shiv Sena and NCP, fueled by rebellions from Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. This has led to a significant shift in the electoral landscape, creating an intense battle for power in the state.
In the 2019 elections, BJP had secured 23 seats in Maharashtra, while Shiv Sena, its then-partner, had obtained 18 seats. The undivided NCP had secured four constituencies, while Congress managed to secure just one seat. With Maharashtra being the second-largest contributor of Lok Sabha seats, the outcome of the elections in the state could have a significant impact on the composition of the government at the Centre.
The failure of the Maharashtra alliance for NDA has raised concerns and created a sense of uncertainty among political circles. The divide within the political parties has led to a fragmented electoral scenario, making it a tough battle for both alliances.
As the votes are being tallied and results are pouring in, all eyes are on Maharashtra to see how the political landscape unfolds. With the stakes high and the race tight, the coming days are sure to be filled with intrigue and drama as the fate of the state hangs in the balance.
- West Bengal
The election results in West Bengal have left political pundits and analysts scratching their heads, as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has managed to secure a significant lead over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state. The outcome of the numerous rounds of counting on Tuesday has defied all predictions made by exit polls, with TMC candidates widening their lead in 31 seats.
This unexpected turn of events comes as a surprise, especially considering the hype surrounding the BJP's campaign in West Bengal. The party had put in a considerable amount of effort and resources in an attempt to make significant gains in the state, but it seems that their efforts have not paid off as anticipated.
The TMC's performance in this election indicates a decline in the BJP's standing in West Bengal, with the ruling party making impressive gains despite facing stiff competition. With former cricketer Yusuf Pathan and TMC's Abhishek Banerjee leading in their respective constituencies, it is clear that the TMC is still a force to be reckoned with in the state.
The results from this election could have far-reaching implications for the BJP's performance in 2024, as it appears that their stronghold in West Bengal is not as secure as they may have thought. With TMC's Mahua Moitra and Shatrughan Sinha also leading in their constituencies, it is evident that the party's strategy has paid off.
- Bihar
As the political atmosphere in Bihar intensifies rapidly, all eyes are on the unfolding drama of the state election results. With Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United (JDU) leading in 15 seats, the BJP holding sway in a total of 13 seats, and Congress ahead in 2 seats, the race is heating up.
One cannot ignore the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), with Ram Vilas leading in 5 states, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leading in three seats. The RJD, with nearly 23 per cent of the total vote share, continues to maintain its stronghold in the state.
The star-studded lineup of prominent candidates from major political factions in Bihar includes Samrat Choudhary (BJP), Nitish Kumar (JDU), Chirag Paswan (Janshakti Party), and Tejashwi Yadav (INDIA), amongst others vying for power. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA dominated Bihar, winning 39 out of the 40 seats. While the BJP clinched 17 seats, JDU secured 16, and LJP captured 6 seats. Congress managed to win just one seat, leaving the RJD without a victorious contender.
With the BJP-JD(U) alliance poised to win 32-33 seats according to exit polls, the INDIA bloc is expected to secure 5-6 seats, setting the stage for a tense election showdown.
- Tamil Nadu
The recent Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu have been nothing short of a political rollercoaster ride, with the DMK-led INDIA alliance emerging as the clear frontrunner. Following over five hours of intense vote counting, it has become evident that the INDIA bloc is set for a resounding victory, leading in an impressive 38 out of the 39 seats in the state.
At the helm of the INDIA alliance is the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which is currently leading in 21 seats, closely followed by the Congress party with 9 seats. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Communist Party of India (CPI) are also making their mark with two seats each. On the other hand, the NDA ally PMK is holding its ground in Dharmapuri, while the BJP’s K. Annamalai is trailing behind in Coimbatore.
The political landscape in Tamil Nadu seems to revolve around three main formations - the INDIA bloc, the AIADMK-led coalition, and the BJP-led NDA. While the AIADMK-led Alliance has put forward the AIADMK as the primary contestant for 32 seats, the NDA primarily comprises the BJP and the PMK, each competing for a significant number of seats.
The dissolution of the alliance between the AIADMK and BJP in September 2023 has certainly shifted the dynamics of the election, paving the way for the DMK-led INDIA alliance to make significant gains. With the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) also fielding candidates across all 39 constituencies in Tamil Nadu, the competition is tougher than ever.
The voting process in Tamil Nadu has been a crucial part of the Lok Sabha election, with all 39 constituencies within the state playing a vital role in determining the overall outcome.
- Madhya Pradesh
The heart of India, Madhya Pradesh, witnessed a historic moment as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a third consecutive clean sweep in the state’s general elections. With a dominant lead in all 29 seats, the saffron party has once again emerged victorious in what was a direct battle with the Congress party.
The BJP's impressive victory comes as no surprise, with the party currently holding a staggering 60 per cent of the state's vote share. In comparison, the Congress party's vote share stands at just over 30 per cent. The exit polls had predicted that the BJP would clinch all 29 seats, and they have certainly lived up to expectations.
The Congress party, on the other hand, faced setbacks right from the beginning, with its nominee from Indore switching allegiance to the BJP on the final day for filing nominations. As a result, Congress was forced to contest on only 27 seats, while also backing the All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) candidate for the Khajuraho seat.
In the previous two general elections, the BJP had secured clear majorities with 27 and 28 seats in 2014 and 2019 respectively. Meanwhile, the INC managed to secure only 2 and 1 seats in the same years. Other parties from the state failed to secure any seats in the past two terms, highlighting the dominance of the BJP in Madhya Pradesh.
With inputs from agencies
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