IRIA News

With all 640 million votes counted in India’s 2024 general elections, the largest democratic exercise has resulted in a surprise. The election, spanning over six weeks and involving seven phases of voting, has culminated in significant development for India as Prime Minister Modi’s party fell short of acquiring a decisive majority.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious with 240 seats. Although this falls short of the 272 seats majority required in the 543-member Lok Sabha. This marks the first time since 2014 that the Hindu nationalist BJP has failed to secure a majority on its own and relies on its coalition partners to form a government.

The BJP’s strategic alliances, however, managed to secure a stable majority ensuring Modi’s next term as India’s Prime Minister. Together with its allies, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 283 seats, allowing them to form the government without further coalition-building.

The opposition, primarily represented by the Indian National Congress (INC) and the newly formed INDIA bloc, faced considerable challenges. Despite their efforts to present a united front against the BJP, the INDIA bloc, led by NIC, secured just over 223 seats. These numbers present a stark contrast to the 2019 general election results, when the BJP’s bloc secured a clear majority from the total of 353 seats, with the BJP itself winning 303 seats.

Speaking from @BJP4India HQ. https://t.co/x2neIsArbi

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 4, 2024

Victory speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared victory for his alliance in India’s general election, asserting a mandate to advance his agenda. This win comes despite his party losing seats to a stronger-than-anticipated opposition, which challenged his mixed economic performance and polarizing politics.

“Today’s victory is the victory of the world’s largest democracy,” Modi told the crowd at his party’s headquarters on June 4, saying Indian voters had “shown immense faith” both in his party and his coalition.

The election entered its final phase on June 1, 2024, and was crucial as it involved around 57 constituencies across eight states and union territories. This phase was pivotal for national and regional parties, with states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Bihar as key battlegrounds.

Major swing in Utter Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh, a state boasting 80 parliamentary seats, holds a significant electoral influence. As India’s most populous state with over 240 million residents, it plays a crucial role in determining the nation’s leadership in New Delhi.

Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi contested elections from different constituencies within this state. Utter Pradesh has been governed by the BJP since 2017, consolidating its position as a dominant force in Indian politics.

In the 2019 elections, the NDA won 64 seats in Utter Pradesh, with the BJP securing 62 of those seats. The Congress managed to win just one seat, while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) captured 10 seats, and the Samajwadi Party (SP) took five. But the 2024 outcome looks very different. The SP, from the INDIA bloc, won 37 seats and the Congress six – totaling 43 for the alliance. BJP could only secure 33 seats from Utter Pradesh.

Most strikingly, the BJP experienced a loss in the Faizabad constituency, home to the Ram temple in Ayodhya, which Prime Minister Modi consecrated in January. The temple, built on the site of the Babri mosque demolished by a Hindu mob in 1992, was a central theme of the BJP’s campaign.

Controversies and campaigns

The election period was not without controversy. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh accused Modi of degrading the dignity of public discourse with inflammatory speeches. In response, BJP spokesperson R.P. Singh dismissed these allegations as baseless. Additionally, the campaign saw personal attacks and heated exchanges between party leaders, reflecting the high stakes and intense rivalries characterizing this election season​.

At the core of this major shift is the series of political decisions by the previous BJP government that seem to have fundamentally altered India’s political landscape. Rahul Gandhi, a prominent leader of the Congress Party, emphasized NIC and its bloc campaigned on issues affecting everyday citizens, such as farmers’ rights, employment, and social justice.

Throughout the election campaign, various issues came to the forefront, influencing voter sentiments. Economic concerns, including inflation and job creation, were major topics of debate. The BJP’s emphasis on national security, infrastructure development, and its welfare schemes found favor among many voters. Meanwhile, the opposition highlighted issues like social justice, agrarian distress, and economic inequality, aiming to sway public opinion with promises of reform and inclusivity​.

The 2024 general elections have reaffirmed the BJP’s dominance in Indian politics under Narendra Modi’s leadership. The party’s ability to secure a majority with its allies highlights its effective electoral strategy and broad-based support. For the opposition, the results indicate the need for introspection and potential re-strategizing to counter the BJP’s political prowess in future elections.

As India concludes its 2024 general elections, the outcomes reflect both continuity and change within the nation’s democratic framework. The BJP’s victory, bolstered by its alliances, ensures political stability, while the opposition’s performance underscores the challenges of uniting diverse interests against a formidable political adversary. Moving forward, India’s political landscape is expected to evolve, shaped by the issues and leaders that resonate with its vast and diverse electorate.