Agencies New Delhi, June 4 The Lok Sabha election results, unlike the Exit Polls that gave 350 plus seats to the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP , dealt a strong blow to the party s dreams of winning 370 seats on its own and the 400 paar target for the NDA on Saturday. The Lok Sabha election results announced on Saturday sprang a surprise even for the pollsters, as most of them predicted a one sided outcome in favour of the BJP led NDA. Till the last reports came in, the INDIA bloc was leading on around 230 seats, while the NDA was ahead of the majority mark with leads on over 290 seats in the 543 member Lok Sabha. Though the BJP looks well positioned to form the government at the Centre, the electoral setback prompted a multitude of reactions from the Opposition parties, which called it a rejection of the Modi government by the electorate. They also claimed that the Congress led INDIA bloc has thrown a spanner in the BJP s gameplans and thwarted its dream run. Even if one sees the results as a setback, there are two clear reasons for the BJP to cheer.
The first is BJP s highest vote percentage in all three terms since 2014, and the second is PM Modi readying to become the only Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to get a record third straight term in office. The biggest takeaways from the elections are BJP s return to power for a record third straight term, the party managing to keep its vote share intact at around 37 per cent, and a resurgent Opposition under the INDIA bloc banner making a valiant comeback. The Congress put up a strong fight against the BJP s electoral might to double its tally as compared to 2019, fetching close to 100 seats on its own. Together with the allies, the INDIA bloc is placed comfortably with around 230 seats, just 40 45 seats short of the magical mark of 272. The BJP, on the other hand, looks like the biggest loser because of its lowest number of seats in all three terms since 2014. Together with its allies like the JD U and TDP, the NDA alliance is best suited to get around 290 95 seats, still falling short by at least 100 seats as against its 400 paar target.
This also prompted pointed jabs from the INDIA bloc, with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge dubbing NDA s performance as a political and ethical setback for PM Modi, as the elections were fought in his name only . The party which once looked overwhelming and overpowering for its rivals is now being viewed as vulnerable, apparently because of coalition Contd. on page 2
