THE results of the Indian election 2024 on Tuesday (4) saw a complete turnaround from what the exit polls had predicted on June 1 as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of prime minister Narendra Modi looked unlikely to win 272 seats, the majority mark to form the government, on its own.
Unlike in the 2014 and 2019 elections, a lesser-than-272 show would mean the Hindu nationalist party would have to depend on allies to cobble up the numbers to reach the majority and form government for the third consecutive term.
Latest trends showed that the BJP was leading in around 240 seats, which means the ruling party/alliance is far less than the claimed range of 350-plus to 400, which many exit polls had predicted.
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While it is still early days as millions of votes were left to be counted, some key leaders of the NDA would have a role to play if the BJP eventually falls short of 272. And among them could be Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of the eastern state of Bihar and the leader of the Janata Dal (United) and Chandrababu Naidu, a former chief minister of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh and leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). He is also expected to win the state elections of Andhra Pradesh that were held concurrently with the national polls.
Nitish Kumar, chief minister of the Indian state of Bihar and the leader of the Janata Dal (United), an ally to PM Modi's BJP. (PTI Photo)
Known for switching alliances between the NDA and opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), these two veteran leaders could emerge as kingmakers and assure the BJP. However, as one journalist asked, what if Kumar dialled the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance bloc and asks them to make him the prime minister?
Read: India elections: What could a reduced majority mean for Modi's BJP
N Chandrababu Naidu, leader of Telugu Desam Party, an ally to PM Modi's BJP. (ANI Photo)
Both the JD(U) and TDP were leading in their respective states.
The NDA would also be wary of the situation as a mid-term collapse of the government could be a loss of face for the prime minister, who has been leading his party and alliance steadily over a decade.
It is the first time that a party led by Modi in any election, either in his home state of Gujarat or at the national level, was unlikely to get a majority on its own.
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