Election Results 2024

Lok Sabha Elections: Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA’s ambition to win more than 400 seats in 2024 Lok Sabha elections became a Mission Impossible amid a strong fight from Congress-led INDIA bloc. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top leaders of BJP such as Amit Shah exuded confidence before and during the Lok Sabha polls that the saffron party alone would have majority to form the government, the election results showed they are well short of majority and are now relying on the NDA to form next government in the world’s largest democracy.

BJP won 240 seats, while NDA won in 293 seats out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats that went to polls.

In a strong show, INDIA bloc won 232 seats, with Congress winning in 99 seats. INDIA bloc also won majority seats in India’s most-populous state and BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh. Popularly termed as ‘UP ke ladke’, Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav scripted a strong show with their alliance winning 43 seats as compared to 35 seats won by NDA.

While BJP targeted to make inroads in Southern India, the Modi-led party couldn’t win a single seat in Tamil Nadu. Mamata Banerjee-led TMC also dashed BJP’s hopes of winning more Lok Sabha seats this time than in 2019 as TMC won 29 seats and BJP won 12 seats.

The term of the 17th Lok Sabha is set to expire on June 16, 2024.

Shortly after voting got over on June 1, most exit polls predicted a comfortable, big win for the BJP-led NDA, forecasting it to make major gains in several states and sweep some of the key ones.

A majority of the exit polls had predicted more than 350 seats for the NDA alliance following an extensive Lok Sabha elections 2024, spanning six weeks, the second-longest general election since 1951-52. Several exit polls also predicted a big gain for BJP in the South and East. As per some exit polls, BJP was seen to open its account in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, while in a shocker for Mamata Banerjee, BJP was shown ahead of TMC in West Bengal.

Five exit polls predicted a significant victory for the ruling BJP-led NDA: Republic Bharat- P Marq (359), India News- D-Dyanamics (371), Republic Bharat- Matrize (353-368), TV 5 Telugu (359), and Jan Ki Baat (362-392). Additionally, the exit polls foresee NDA's dominance in Karnataka and Maharashtra, apart from a sweep in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, while forecasting a rout for the Left-led alliance in Kerala.

2024 Lok Sabha detailed poll schedule
On March 16, the Election Commission had announced the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections, which included seven phases. Voting commenced on April 19. The second phase was on April 26, the third phase on May 7, the fourth phase on May 13, the fifth phase on May 20, the sixth phase on May 25, and the 7th on June 1.

Modi's pitch
After 2014’s 'abki baar Modi sarkar' and 2019’s 'phir ek baar Modi sarkar', BJP’s pitch this time in Lok Sabha elections was 'abki baar 400 paar'. Modi was confident of returning to power for the third straight term - a record held by Jawaharlal Nehru. Modi said on various occasions that BJP alone will get 370 seats in Lok Sabha elections out of the 543 seats that are contested in India.

Ranged on the other side of the poll battle was the India (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) bloc, a combine formed by the coming together of a number of opposition parties such as Gandhi-led Congress, Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party.

Lok Sabha, in numbers
India's Lok Sabha has 545 seats. While 543 seats go to polls, the remaining 2 are nominated by the President. These 2 nominated seats are meant for representatives of the Anglo-Indian community, but only if the President believes they are not adequately represented through the elected seats. All 543 elected Members of Parliament (MPs) are chosen through a first-past-the-post voting system in single-member constituencies.

To be eligible to vote, individuals must be Indian citizens, aged 18 or older, ordinary residents of the polling area within the constituency, and registered voters with their names on the electoral rolls. A valid voter identification card issued by the Election Commission of India or an equivalent document is a prerequisite. Certain individuals convicted of electoral or other offenses are disqualified from voting.

These elections are conducted in accordance with the established schedule and the constitutional mandate of parliamentary elections occurring once every five years.

2019 Lok Sabha Elections
In 2019, India conducted its general elections in seven phases, from April 11 to May 19, and the final results were announced on May 23. The BJP emerged victorious with a resounding win, securing 303 seats to establish the government.

912 million citizens were eligible to cast their votes, contributing to a record-breaking voter turnout of over 67%. This election marked the highest participation of women voters in history.

The BJP, with 37.36% vote share, achieved the highest percentage by a political party since the 1989 general election. This translated into the party securing 303 seats, strengthening its considerable majority.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) collectively won 353 seats. The BJP alone garnered 37.76% of the votes, while the combined NDA vote constituted 45% of the 603.7 million votes cast. On the other hand, the Congress secured 52 seats, falling short of the 10% threshold required to claim the Leader of the Opposition position. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) secured 91 seats, while other parties collectively won 98 seats.

What were the results in 2019 Lok Sabha elections?
India held general elections spanning seven phases from April 11 to May 19, 2019. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a landslide victory, clinching 303 seats to return to power for a second consecutive term. Leading the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the BJP-led coalition secured a total of 353 seats. In contrast, the Congress party secured 52 seats, falling short of the 10% threshold required to qualify for the Leader of the Opposition position.