The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central figure in the BJP’s Lok Sabha election campaign, saw his influence overshadowed by a resurgent opposition. As results came in on Tuesday, the BJP was restricted to well below the majority mark of 272 in the 543-member Lok Sabha. However, the BJP-led NDA is expected to cross the majority threshold comfortably.
In his first message after the results, Modi expressed gratitude to the voters, stating, “People have placed their faith in NDA for a third consecutive time! This is a historical feat in India’s history.” He assured that the NDA would continue its work to meet the aspirations of the people.
Despite Modi’s positive outlook, the BJP is expected to reflect on the reasons for its sharp decline in seats—from 303 in 2019 to about 240 in 2024. Analysts noted that the BJP’s campaign relied heavily on the Modi brand, with the party even branding its manifesto as “Modi ki guarantee.” The opposition INDIA bloc, however, succeeded in challenging this narrative and the national leadership issue in several states.
Acknowledgment of the party’s missteps has surfaced among BJP leaders, including poor candidate selection and forming coalitions and alliances in states like Maharashtra. Modi’s attempt to pivot the election around the opposition’s alleged Muslim appeasement faced criticism. The BJP’s manifesto generated little interest, with party leaders focusing on attacking the Congress over its manifesto instead.
Modi’s “400 paar” slogan, intended to project a grand majority for the BJP, may have led to complacency among supporters and rallied fence-sitters around the opposition’s call of constitutional threats and misuse of probe agencies.
A BJP leader noted that despite setbacks, the party is expected to perform well in several states, including Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Gujarat. However, the stunning setback in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP won or led in only 33 of 80 seats compared to 62 in 2019, has raised concerns. The party appears to have lost loyal caste votes, including upper castes and extremely backward classes, to the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance led by Akhilesh Yadav.
This outcome is likely to intensify the political debate around Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who has detractors within the party. Unemployment, particularly among the youth, has also worked against the BJP in several states.
Modi, who has dominated rivals in every election since entering politics as Gujarat chief minister, will now navigate the uncertainties of a coalition government and the demands of allies for the first time. With the BJP-led NDA projected to surpass 290 seats, Modi is expected to head the new government, where allies will play a crucial role.
The NDA, which has primarily been active around elections in the last decade, will likely operate differently now with a more significant role for its allies.