BJP falls short of ambitious election target as Opposition gains ground
By: Isuru Parakrama
June 04, World (LNW): In India’s latest election showdown, early trends suggest that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance is leading in just under 300 seats, whilst opposition parties are gaining ground in about 200, foreign reports claim.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, eyeing an unprecedented third consecutive term for himself and his BJP, faces a closely watched battle as the results unfold.
The lower house of India’s parliament, known as the Lok Sabha, comprises 543 seats, and to form a government, a party or coalition needs to secure at least 272 seats.
The BJP-led alliance initially aimed for a sweeping victory, setting an ambitious target of 400 seats.
However, current trends indicate they may fall short of that goal, with the alliance currently leading in approximately 295 seats.
This election, touted as the world’s largest, unfolded over seven phases across six weeks, engaging almost a billion eligible voters.
As results trickle in, the nation eagerly anticipates the official announcement from the Election Commission of India, which will declare the winners.
Whilst the BJP has made significant strides in several regions, including the north and west, their performance in the south has raised eyebrows.
K Annamalai, a prominent BJP candidate in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore constituency, trails by over 23,000 votes.
Annamalai, a former police officer, was seen as a strong contender to bolster the BJP’s presence in a state traditionally resistant to the party’s influence.
However, leading in Coimbatore is Ganapathy P Rajkumar, a former mayor representing the regional DMK party.
Surprisingly, the BJP is not leading in any seat in Tamil Nadu, as per current trends, while the INDIA alliance, consisting of various regional parties, is making significant gains.
As the counting continues and final results are awaited, the political landscape in India remains in flux, with each constituency’s outcome crucial in determining the country’s future leadership.
*With inputs from BBC
