February 22, 2025

People Prick The BJP Balloon

By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2024-06-04 05:20:45

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Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.

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The exit polls have gone wrong. Opposition INDIA alliance has put up a very strong show to ensure that it is not a walkover for the NDA. Although the NDA has raced past the majority mark, it has fallen way behind predictions and BJP chest-thumping. There is no sign of breaching the 400 mark. The alliance is likely to get around 300 seats. The BJP, which got majority on its own in both 2014 and 2019, is likely to get only about 250 seats on its own.

Uttar Pradesh pricked the BJP balloon this time. The state which gave the BJP maximum number of MPs has this time decided to support Samajvadi Party in equal numbers. The likely loss of nearly 30 seats in UP has hurt the BJP immensely. The expected gains in Bengal and other states have also not materialized, leaving it fighting hard for a simple majority for the NDA.

The likely results, as visible in early trends, mean that the BJP will, for the first time, have to depend on alliance partners to form a stable government as it is not likely to get a majority on its own. Also, the new BJP government will have to contend with a strong and united opposition.

The opposition had reminded the BJP what had happened to the India Shining campaign unleashed by the Vajpayee government in 2004. This time though, the opposition fell just short of taking advantage of the anti-incumbency against the BJP and ensure its ouster. It is clear that the NDA will form the government and Narendra Modi will be Prime Minister again. But this victory is a defeat for the BJP and a victory for the INDIA alliance. They have shown that the Modi magic is waning and have set themselves up nicely for the contest in 2029 when Modi is not likely to be around.