Supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Delhi were jubilant as they celebrated their party’s victory in the parliamentary elections. They pointed out that the BJP had secured the most seats and toasted the win, expressing their happiness about the results. Many supporters, like 36-year-old office worker Archana Sharma, stated that they were looking forward to continuing to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP in the future. Others, such as 38-year-old optometrist Govind Singh, emphasized the importance of having a government with a parliamentary majority, despite acknowledging the need for a strong opposition.
Despite the BJP securing 240 seats in parliament, which was a decrease from the 303 seats they won in the previous election, they were still short of a majority by 32 seats. In contrast, the main opposition party, the Congress party, experienced a remarkable turnaround by winning 99 seats, almost doubling their tally from the previous election. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi expressed that the results were a clear indication from the country that they did not want Modi as the leader, emphasizing that the people had given the “right response.”
Key parties such as the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal United (JDU), which together hold a total of 28 seats, announced their support for Modi’s alliance. Despite predictions from commentators and exit polls of an overwhelming victory for Modi, there were criticisms from critics who accused him of suppressing opposition figures and violating the rights of India’s Muslim community. In a personal setback for Modi, he was re-elected to his constituency in Varanasi with a significantly lower margin of votes compared to the previous election, signaling potential challenges for his leadership in the upcoming term.
The results of the parliamentary elections in India highlighted the shifting political landscape in the country, with the BJP facing a reduced majority and the Congress party making significant gains. The support from key parties for Modi’s alliance indicated a potential path for forming a government despite falling short of a majority. The criticisms and protests against Modi’s leadership raised concerns about the state of democracy and minority rights in India, leading to calls for accountability and respect for fundamental freedoms in the country. The personal setback for Modi in his constituency reflected the challenges and pressures he may face in addressing the concerns and demands of the Indian population in his next term as Prime Minister.
