June 3rd 2024.
As New Delhi awaits the results of the Lok Sabha election, all eyes are on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he hopes to secure a third consecutive term in power. The opposition bloc, on the other hand, is eager to pull off an unexpected victory. The counting of votes is set to take place on Tuesday, marking the end of a long 80-day polling period.
While many experts have predicted a win for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, the ruling combine is aiming for a sweeping victory and hopes to expand its reach into new territories. On the other hand, the opposition's national presence has been dwindling. The exit polls have unanimously projected a significant win for the NDA, with Modi's goal of securing a '400-paar' alliance seeming more achievable than the opposition's target of 180 seats, which is only one-third of the total number of seats.
As the tension mounts before the results, the animosity between the two competing sides has spilled over into post-poll accusations. The Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, has dismissed the exit polls as 'Modi media polls', while the opposition bloc has raised concerns about the reliability of electronic voting machines and urged the Election Commission to follow proper counting guidelines. In response, the Bharatiya Janata Party has accused its rivals of trying to undermine the integrity of the electoral process and has urged the EC to prevent any violence or unrest during the vote counting.
The outcome of the election will reveal if the Congress party has the strength and leadership to challenge the BJP, especially as its presence across the country has been steadily shrinking since 2014. The party has failed to secure the main opposition status in the last two Lok Sabha elections and has lost its hold in many states, particularly in the Hindi heartland. The party's leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, have boldly predicted that their alliance will win 295 seats and put an end to the Modi era.
If the BJP manages to retain power, Modi will join the ranks of the country's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, as the only leaders to secure three consecutive electoral victories. The party has made a strong push in the two eastern states, where it surprisingly emerged as the second most powerful force in 2019. The exit polls have suggested that the BJP may even overtake the two regional parties and come out on top in these states.
Confident in his return to power, Modi has already shared his vision for the country in an article posted on 'X' and has highlighted the people's support for the NDA and rejection of the opposition. He has also held a meeting with top officials to discuss the agenda for the first 100 days of the new government.
The election results will also determine the fate of several Union Ministers, including Piyush Goyal, Bhupender Yadav, Sarbananda Sonowal, and Dharmendra Pradhan, who were all asked by the BJP to contest the polls despite being Rajya Sabha members. Former Chief Ministers, such as Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Basavaraj Bommai, Trivendra Singh Rawat, Digvijay Singh, and Bhupesh Baghel, are also eagerly awaiting the results. As the nation holds its breath, the verdict of the people will soon be revealed.
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