By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
As India concludes its six week long election, with the counting of most of the 640 million votes, significant revelations emerge from the world's largest democratic exercise in history. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party , led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is anticipated to secure 240 seats, falling short of the 272 seat threshold for a majority in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's Parliament. However, in coalition with its allies, the BJP manages to secure a majority. On the other hand, the opposition INDIA alliance, spearheaded by the Indian National Congress party, secures 222 seats.
This outcome marks a stark contrast to the 2019 results, where the BJP led National Democratic Alliance clinched 353 seats, with the BJP alone securing 303 seats. The shift in dynamics stems from a series of political tremors that have evidently reshaped India's political landscape.
One of the notable battlegrounds is Uttar Pradesh , a state governed by the BJP since 2017, boasting 80 parliamentary constituencies and a population exceeding 240 million, thus pivotal in determining the governance in New Delhi. In the recent elections, the Samajwadi Party .
Emerges victorious with 37 seats, accompanied by the Congress with six seats, collectively totaling 43 for the INDIA alliance. Conversely, the BJP secures 33 seats, with its allies leading in three other seats. Notably, the BJP suffers a surprising defeat in the Faizabad constituency, home to the Ram temple in Ayodhya, a focal point of the BJP's campaign.
In West Bengal, despite exit polls projecting a significant win for the BJP, the All India Trinamool Congress maintains its stronghold, securing 29 seats compared to the BJP's 12 seats.The southern state of Kerala witnesses a breakthrough for the BJP, traditionally a bastion of the left, as the party secures its first Lok Sabha parliamentarian from the state, Suresh Gopi, in the Thrissur constituency.
The BJP's strategy involves aligning with Islamophobic elements within the Christian communities, a move criticized for exacerbating religious tension in Maharashtra, the BJP suffers substantial losses as the Congress and its allies make significant gains. The BJP's "politics of humiliation" is cited as a factor breeding discontent among voters.While the BJP remains a formidable force in Karnataka, winning 17 seats, its influence shows signs of erosion, with the Congress winning 10 seats. Karnataka, crucial for the BJP, represents its only stronghold in southern India.