By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2024-06-02 07:26:25
The exit polls predict a similar or slightly better performance by the BJP-led NDA in 2024. It is expected to cross the 353 seats it got in 2019 but except three polls, none of the others show that 400 paar is going to be achieved. The poll of polls shows that the NDA is expected to get between 365 and 380 seats. The opposition alliance is far behind at 120-135. The polls show that the BJP has gained in UP, Bihar, Bengal, Odisha, Andhra, Telangana and Tamil Nadu while losing some ground in Rajasthan and maintaining its hold in other states. In Maharashtra, it is a neck-to- neck fight. The opposition has done well in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, where the Left Front is expected to be decimated.
For the opposition, this is disturbing news but one which is of their own making. They could not connect with the voters and could not build a narrative that could turn the voters away from the BJP. It also proves that the Modi magic is intact and in fact it is growing, as the predictions for Bengal, Odisha and Tamil Nadu show. The predictions for Delhi, which is the best example of the opposition unity, show that the two major opposition parties, Congress and AAP, have not been able to dent the BJPs popularity in the NCR when it comes to Lok Sabha elections. The BJP is expected to sweep Delhi and a few polls predict that the opposition might snatch just one seat.
If the results mirror the exit polls and if the NDA is able to secure 370 seats, the opposition is sure to say that the BJP was not able to achieve its target of 400 paar and has hence not done well. But the fact is that with such a brute majority in the Lok Sabha and a working majority in the Rajya Sabha, NDA 3.0 will be able to push through its agenda at a faster pace in the next five years. The opposition will be in for a tougher time as PM Modi has already spoken of taking the crusade against corruption to a higher level in his third term. Also, the BJP is now likely to push hard for consolidating the gains it is likely to achieve in Bengal, Odisha and the southern states.