📷 Image Credits: NDTV
The Lok Sabha elections in India have seen the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), crossing the halfway mark with a narrow lead. As of today, the NDA is ahead on 290 seats, while the opposition INDIA alliance follows closely with 234 seats. To form the government, a party or alliance needs to cross the 272-mark in the 543-member Lok Sabha.
Amid talks of the Opposition reaching out to some of the BJP’s allies, Nationalist Congress Party patriarch, Sharad Pawar, denied reports of contacting Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) head Chandrababu Naidu. Media reports had suggested that Mr. Pawar had contacted the leaders with the aim of taking the INDIA alliance past the required majority mark.
During a press conference, Sharad Pawar explicitly stated, “I have not spoken to Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar, or anybody else.” This denial comes amidst speculations about potential alliances and strategies as the results unfold. The numbers indicate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to secure a third consecutive term, albeit with a narrower victory than anticipated.
Uttar Pradesh, a crucial battleground state, has posed challenges for the BJP this time around. The INDIA bloc, consisting of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, is leading in over 40 seats out of the total 80, while the BJP trails in the mid-thirties. Additionally, in West Bengal, the BJP’s performance has not met expectations as the party is leading in only 11 seats compared to Trinamool Congress’ 31 seats.
As the political landscape unfolds post-election results, the dynamics and potential alliances are under scrutiny. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest developments in the Lok Sabha elections 2024 live on HeadlineFly.com.