India’s Political Landscape Redefined: Major Surprises in the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls
India’s 2024 General elections results have delivered dramatic shifts, revealing big wins, losses, and surprises that defied expectations. With a tight race in Varanasi and the BJP’s downfall in Maharashtra, the political landscape of the country has been reshaped.
With all of India’s 640 million votes counted after the six-week-long India’s 2024 General elections results, the world’s largest democratic exercise has produced some significant surprises. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 240 seats, falling short of the 272-mark needed for a majority in the 543-seat Lok Sabha, the lower house of India’s Parliament. Nevertheless, with its allies, the BJP achieved a majority with 292 seats. Meanwhile, the opposition INDIA alliance, led by the Indian National Congress party, captured 234 seats. This marks a sharp contrast to the 2019 results, where the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 353 seats, 303 of which were secured by the BJP alone.
Uttar Pradesh: A Tight Varanasi Race and the Rise of SP in India’s 2024 General elections results
Uttar Pradesh (UP), governed by the BJP since 2017, is crucial in determining the governance of New Delhi with its 80 parliamentary constituencies. In 2019, the NDA won 64 seats in UP, with the BJP alone grabbing 62. However, the 2024 outcome saw the Samajwadi Party (SP) winning 37 seats and the Congress six, totaling 43 for the INDIA alliance. The BJP won 33 seats, while its allies secured three. Notably, the BJP lost in Faizabad, home to the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
West Bengal: Trinamool Holds Its Fort in India’s 2024 General elections results
In West Bengal, predictions of a BJP majority proved inaccurate. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) won 29 of the state’s 42 seats, while the BJP secured 12 and the Congress one. This outcome underscores the resilience of TMC despite earlier speculations favoring the BJP.
Kerala: BJP Breaches Its Final Frontier in India’s 2024 General elections results
In Kerala, a state traditionally resistant to BJP’s Hindu majoritarian politics, the party achieved a historic victory. Suresh Gopi won the Thrissur constituency, marking BJP’s first Lok Sabha seat from Kerala. The Congress, however, dominated with 14 seats.
Maharashtra: How the BJP Lost the Plot in India’s 2024 General elections results
In Maharashtra, the BJP and its allies faced significant losses. The INDIA alliance won 30 of the state’s 48 seats, with the Congress alone capturing 13. The BJP managed only nine seats.
Karnataka: BJP Bent, Not Broken in India’s 2024 General elections results
Karnataka, crucial for the BJP as its only southern stronghold, saw the party winning 17 seats, down from 25 in 2019. The Congress won 10 seats and JD(S) two. Despite the BJP’s erosion, its influence in coastal areas like Mangaluru remains strong.
BJP performed exceptionally well in Odisha in India’s 2024 General elections results
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) performed exceptionally well in Odisha, winning 78 seats in the 2024 Odisha Assembly elections. This significant victory marked a major shift in the state’s political landscape, with the BJP gaining a strong foothold in Odisha. The party’s performance was particularly impressive in the Lok Sabha elections, where it won 19 out of 21 seats, leaving one each for the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Indian National Congress.
Biggest Surprises in India’s 2024 General elections results
The 2024 Indian general election delivered several unexpected outcomes. Here are the most notable surprises:
BJP’s Losses: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) experienced significant setbacks in major states, losing ground in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Maharashtra .
Congress’s Gains: The Indian National Congress nearly doubled its 2019 seat count, securing 99 seats and marking a significant recovery
Historic Shifts in India’s 2024 General Elections
INDIA Alliance Performance: The opposition alliance, led by the Congress, exceeded expectations by winning 233 seats .
BJP’s First Seat in Kerala: Suresh Gopi’s victory in the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat was a historic first for the BJP in Kerala .
Smriti Irani’s Defeat: Federal minister Smriti Irani lost her Amethi seat to Kishori Lal, a long-time aide of the Gandhi family .
Modi’s Narrow Victory in Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi retained his Varanasi seat, but with a much-reduced margin, suggesting a dip in his popularity .
BJP’s Loss in Ayodhya: The BJP lost the Faizabad seat, home to the Ayodhya temple, despite the inauguration of the grand Ram temple earlier in the year .
NDA’s Tight Win in Mumbai: The NDA candidate won the North West Mumbai constituency by just 48 votes .
Congress’s Win in Gujarat: For the first time in a decade, the Congress secured a seat in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Modi .
These outcomes highlight significant shifts in India’s political landscape, posing challenges for the BJP while bolstering the opposition.
Impact of Uttar Pradesh Results on the Overall Election
The election results in Uttar Pradesh significantly influenced the national outcome:
BJP’s Decline: The BJP’s seat count dropped from 62 in 2019 to 34 in 2024, marking a considerable setback in a key state .
INDIA Alliance Gains: The opposition alliance, particularly the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress, made significant gains, securing 43 seats combined (SP with 37 seats and Congress with 6) .
National Impact: The BJP’s losses in Uttar Pradesh, coupled with setbacks in other states, resulted in a reduced majority for the party in the Lok Sabha. The gains made by the opposition in Uttar Pradesh played a crucial role in this shift .
Impact on Yogi Adityanath: The BJP’s poor performance in Uttar Pradesh, especially in Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s home turf of Gorakhpur, could weaken his political standing .
Broader Political Implications: The outcomes in Uttar Pradesh are likely to affect national politics, giving momentum to the opposition alliance and creating new challenges for the BJP and its leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Reasons Behind Congress’s Improved Performance in India’s 2024 General elections results
The Congress party’s improved performance in the 2024 elections can be attributed to several factors:
Unified Front: The Congress managed to present a cohesive front, overcoming internal differences which helped mobilize party workers and supporters.
Influential Leaders: Key figures like former chief ministers Charanjit Singh Channi and Amarinder Singh Raja Warring led vigorous campaigns.
Anti-Incumbency: Public discontent with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government drove former AAP supporters back to Congress.
Farmer Support: The Congress gained substantial backing from the farming community by endorsing ongoing farmers’ protests and promising debt waivers.
Local Concerns: The party effectively addressed local issues, resonating with voters through a comprehensive vision document.
Youth Influence: The influence of local leaders, such as Balkar Singh (father of late singer Sidhu Moosewala), was particularly strong among young voters.
Role of Congress’s “Guarantees” Schemes
The Congress’s “guarantees” schemes played a crucial role in boosting voter turnout:
Increased Vote Share: These schemes, offering benefits like free bus rides for women and free electricity, particularly appealed to women and youths, increasing Congress’s vote share in Karnataka.
Voter Consolidation: The schemes helped consolidate Muslim and SC/ST votes, especially in Kalyana Karnataka.
Higher Turnout: Areas where the schemes were popular saw higher voter turnout for Congress.
Mixed Impact: While the guarantees improved voter turnout, they did not result in significant seat gains for the Congress.
Role of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in India’s 2024 General elections results
Sonia and Rahul Gandhi played pivotal roles in the Congress’s improved performance:
Campaign Leadership: Both leaders were instrumental in campaigning, rallying the party base, and strategizing the electoral approach.
Voter Engagement: They effectively communicated the party’s vision and promises, resonating with a wide voter base.
BJP’s Strategy for Securing Majority in India’s 2024 General elections results
The BJP secured a majority by leveraging several factors:
Modi’s Leadership: Prime Minister Modi’s popularity and leadership were key to the BJP’s success.
Regional Strength: The BJP maintained strongholds in key states like Madhya Pradesh, Chattisharh, and Gujarat.
Broad Support Base: The party expanded its voter base by appealing to various castes and communities.
Economic Policies: Effective management of economic policies and the perception of better handling of the COVID-19 pandemic bolstered support.
Nationalist Narrative: The BJP’s emphasis on a nationalist narrative resonated with many voters.
Weak Opposition: Internal divisions within opposition parties like Congress further contributed to the BJP’s majority.
Samajwadi Party’s Impact and Strategy in India’s 2024 General Elections
The Samajwadi Party (SP) significantly influenced the national election results:
Strong Performance in UP: The SP’s success in Uttar Pradesh, winning 37 seats, was crucial for the opposition alliance’s overall gains .
Regional Influence: This victory gave the SP considerable regional influence and a stronger voice in Parliament and the state assembly .
National Impact: The SP’s performance contributed to the BJP’s reduced majority, emphasizing regional aspirations and pressure on the central government .
Opposition Unity: The SP’s success bolstered the opposition alliance’s unity, enhancing its collective influence in national politics .
The Samajwadi Party’s strategy differed from 2019 by:
Diverse Candidate Selection: The party shifted from predominantly Yadav candidates to a more inclusive mix of non-Yadav OBCs and Dalits.
PDA Strategy: The focus on Pichade, Dalit, Alpasankhyak (PDA) effectively targeted marginalized communities.
Regional Focus: Emphasizing regions like Purvanchal and selecting candidates strategically contributed to its success.
Social Engineering: Winning over traditionally BSP-supporting Dalits and focusing on farmers’ issues and joblessness resonated with voters.
Historic Shifts in India’s 2024 General Elections: Resident’s Perspective on BJP’s Loss in Ayodhya
From a resident’s perspective, the BJP’s loss in the Faizabad constituency, which includes Ayodhya, was not surprising. Local issues like inadequate compensation for displaced residents, unorganized infrastructure projects, and daily inconveniences played a significant role in voter dissatisfaction. The grand development projects, while notable nationally, overlooked the immediate needs and sufferings of local residents, leading to a loss of support for the BJP among the affected population.