As the vote count commenced on June 4 for 542 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP-led NDA initially held a narrow lead, projecting a potential victory. However, as the counting progressed, the INDIA bloc, comprising parties such as the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Indian National Congress, surged ahead, challenging the NDA’s dominance.
The results have come as a surprise to many, as most exit polls had predicted a comfortable victory for the saffron party-led National Democratic Alliance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious target of securing 400 seats for the BJP now appears to be a distant dream.
One of the biggest setbacks for the BJP came in Uttar Pradesh, a state it had swept in the previous elections. INDIA, led by the SP and Congress, is now leading in 42 out of 80 seats. A similar trend emerged in West Bengal, where most exit polls had indicated a landslide victory for the BJP. However, the results have turned out to be quite different, with Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) leading in 33 seats, while the BJP trails with only 9 out of 42 seats.
In Bihar, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) (JDU) is outperforming the BJP, fueling speculation about potential post-election alliances. Social media users have taken to expressing their surprise and amusement at the results through memes and humorous posts.
One of the most shocking results for the BJP came in the Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency, where Ayodhya is located. Despite the Ram Mandir inauguration being a high-profile campaign issue for the ruling party, SP’s Awadhesh Prasad emerged as the frontrunner. In Punjab, the BJP failed to secure any seats, with the contest primarily between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Congress is leading in 7 seats, while AAP is ahead in 3 out of the total 13 seats in the state.
The Lok Sabha Election Results 2024 have been a roller coaster ride, with unexpected twists and turns. The final outcome is yet to be determined, but the results have certainly shaken up the political landscape of India.
