Narendra Modi is set for a historic third term as the NDA leads with 290 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
New Delhi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on track for a historic third term as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leads in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Contrary to pre-election exit polls predicting a landslide victory for the NDA, the actual results present a more competitive scenario, with the NDA holding 290 seats and the opposition INDIA alliance close behind with 234 seats.
The BJP, under Modi’s leadership, has not matched its 2019 performance when it secured 353 seats, falling short of the 400-seat target many pollsters anticipated. Notably, the BJP has faced setbacks in key states. In Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party and Congress-led INDIA alliance lead with 42 seats, while the NDA trails with 37 seats. In Bihar, the Janata Dal (United) is emerging strong, leading in 15 seats against BJP’s 11.
In Rajasthan and Gujarat, regions previously dominated by the BJP, the Congress has made substantial inroads, marking a dramatic resurgence. West Bengal remains under the stronghold of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which chose to contest independently from the INDIA alliance but continues to maintain a lead in the state.
The election results highlight the growing strength of the INDIA alliance, composed of multiple opposition parties including Congress. This coalition was formed as a strategic response to the BJP’s overwhelming victory in the 2019 elections, where the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by Congress managed only 91 seats. The shift in voter sentiment and the INDIA alliance’s performance indicate a more balanced political landscape.
Exit polls had largely underestimated the INDIA alliance, with India Today’s Axis My India predicting only 131 to 166 seats for them and 361 to 401 for the NDA. Similarly, ABP News’ C Voter estimated 152 to 182 seats for the INDIA alliance, with the NDA projected to secure between 353 to 383 seats. The actual results, however, have shown a significant deviation, highlighting the dynamic nature of Indian politics.