The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): The 2024 Lok Sabha elections marked a pivotal moment for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) retained power for a third consecutive term, albeit with a reduced majority. However, a significant number of high-profile Union Ministers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet faced unexpected defeats.
The election outcomes showcased the dynamic nature of Indian politics, emphasizing the crucial role of local issues, alliances, and candidate selection in determining electoral success. Analysts point to several factors contributing to the losses of prominent ministers, including threats to scrap reservations, potential constitutional changes, neglect of grassroots workers, and perceived arrogance.
Among the notable defeats, seven out of ten Union ministers fielded from Uttar Pradesh lost their seats. The list includes:
– Smriti Irani from Amethi (lost by 1.67 lakh votes)
– Mahendra Nath Pandey from Chandauli (21,565 votes)
– Sanjeev Balyan from Muzaffarnagar (24,672 votes)
– Ajay Mishra Teni from Lakhimpur Kheri (34,329 votes)
– Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti from Fatehpur (33,199 votes)
– Kaushal Kishore from Mohanlalganj SC reserved seat (70,292 votes)
– Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma from Jalaun SC reserved seat (53,898 votes)
Even victorious ministers, such as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, saw a significant reduction in their winning margins. Rajnath Singh, who campaigned with the slogan “abki baar 5 lakh paar,” witnessed his victory margin in Lucknow shrink from 3.47 lakh votes in 2019 to just 1.3 lakh votes in the recent election.
These results underscore the substantial electoral challenges faced by the BJP, reflecting the shifting voter preferences across various regions in the country.