According to exit polls conducted on June 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP-led NDA alliance is projected to retain power with a significant majority in the Lok Sabha elections. The alliance is expected to make gains in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, while it may lose some seats in Bihar, Rajasthan, and Haryana. Various exit polls forecast the NDA winning between 353 and 401 seats, and the opposition INDIA bloc securing between 109 and 169 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha.
In the third phase of India’s Lok Sabha elections, a significant number of candidates have self-declared criminal cases against themselves. Of the 695 candidates analyzed, 159 (or 23%) have criminal records, with 122 facing serious criminal charges. Major national parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress (INC), have over 40% of their candidates with criminal backgrounds. Moreover, a large majority of contesting candidates from major parties, including independent candidates, possess assets worth over 1 crore (crorepati status), with the median assets of BJP candidates being the highest among national parties. Despite these findings, over a fifth of the constituencies have no female candidates contesting the elections.
The Bhongir Lok Sabha constituency in Telangana witnesses a multi-cornered contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)). Former MPs Komatireddy brothers have joined BJP, while BRS fields Kyama Mallesh and CPI(M) nominates Mahamd Jahangir. Despite CPI(M)’s alliance with Congress in other seats, it contests alone in Bhongir, targeting votes in five assembly segments. The constituency faces issues such as pollution of Musi river, delayed development projects, and industries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress party during his second day of campaigning in Jharkhand, accusing the opposition party of weakness and corruption. Emphasizing the need for a strong leader and government, Modi contrasted his government’s actions against terrorism with the alleged inaction of the previous Congress regime. He also lashed out at the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and its alliance partner Congress, accusing them of amassing wealth through illicit means.
