Surprises and Shifts in the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls
As the results of India’s 2024 Lok Sabha elections unfold, unexpected outcomes and significant shifts are becoming apparent. The extensive counting process has revealed a series of surprises that have redefined the country’s political dynamics.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to be falling short of the 272-seat majority in the 543-member Lok Sabha. Although the BJP and its allies are still projected to secure a majority, the opposition INDIA alliance, led by the Congress party, is expected to win over 200 seats. This is a stark contrast to the 2019 elections, where the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 353 seats, with the BJP alone winning 303.
Several pivotal developments have contributed to this dramatic shift in India’s political landscape.
Key Surprises from the Vote Count
Uttar Pradesh: Tight Races and SP’s Surge
In Uttar Pradesh, a state governed by the BJP since 2017 with 80 parliamentary constituencies, the political scenario has changed significantly. As India’s most populous state with over 240 million people, Uttar Pradesh is crucial in determining the national governance. Both Prime Minister Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi are contesting from different constituencies here.
In the 2019 elections, the NDA won 64 seats in Uttar Pradesh, with the BJP securing 62 of these. The Congress managed only one seat, while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won 10, and the Samajwadi Party (SP) secured five.
However, the 2024 results indicate a different story. As of 4 PM (10:30 GMT), the SP was leading in 33 seats, and the Congress in seven, making a total of 40 for the INDIA alliance. Meanwhile, the BJP was ahead in 36 seats, with its allies leading in three more. Notably, the BJP was trailing in Faizabad, home to the significant Ram temple in Ayodhya, a central element of the BJP’s campaign.
Political analyst and Hindi professor Apoorvanand highlighted that the SP and Congress worked strategically this time. The improved relationship between SP leader Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi played a crucial role in their success, creating a stronger and more effective alliance.