The BJP’s lower-than-expected seats are the result of its poor performance in Uttar Pradesh, down to 35 from 62 in 2019, Maharashtra (11 out of 48 seats), Rajasthan (14 against 25 in 2019), Haryana (five against 10 in 2019), and West Bengal (10 against 18 in 2019). In Odisha, however, the BJP did very well, winning 19 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats and getting a comfortable majority in the Assembly polls

New Delhi: Belying widespread expectations and the exit polls which gave the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) an overwhelming majority and forecast a drubbing for the Congress-led led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), election trends on Tuesday shown a tough fight between the two coalitions. With its higher numbers, though, the NDA seemed to have an edge over the INDIA bloc.

Within a few hours after the counting of votes began at 8 am, it became evident that the ruling NDA was getting anywhere between 290 and 300 seats, with the BJP’s tally in the ballpark figure of 240, and the INDIA bloc around 230 seats, the Congress number in the region of 100. Till the evening, it was a stalemated position. Thus, the magic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which fetched full majority for BJP in 2014 and 2019, failed to work in the 2024 General Elections for his third term.

The BJP’s lower-than-expected seats are the result of its poor performance in Uttar Pradesh, down to 35 from 62 in 2019, Maharashtra (11 out of 48 seats), Rajasthan (14 against 25 in 2019), Haryana (five against 10 in 2019), and West Bengal (10 against 18 in 2019). In Odisha, however, the BJP did very well, winning 19 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats and getting a comfortable majority in the Assembly polls.

In Delhi, meanwhile, rumors came thick and fast amid speculations that Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar, the saffron party’s two key allies, may switch sides. This was despite the fact that the BJP alone was expected to get more seats that all INDIA constituents put together.

Naidu not just won the State Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, but also bagged good number of Lok Sabha seats, effectively becoming a kingmaker. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly spoke to him and Kumar, whose party was ahead in 14 seats when last reports came in.

The BJP was expected to cross the magic figure of 272 on its own; its failure to do so sent shock waves throughout the stock markets.

The uncertain election results clearly unnerved stock investors who were on a buying spree on the expectation of political stability and policy continuity, especially as the Narendra Modi government was focused on fiscal consolidation and infrastructure building. In fact, for these very reasons international organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank and rating agencies had been projecting high economic growth for India in the foreseeable future.

With the INDIA bloc, led by the Congress, coming to power being a possibility, the party office was agog with activists and media persons. Hectic parleys are on. A meeting of NDA leaders will be held on Wednesday.

The ruling alliance can derive some relief from the statement of Chirag Paswan, president of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), in which he claimed he was ‘firmly’ with PM Modi. While Paswan was leading from the Hajipur seat, candidates of his party were ahead of their rivals in four other constituencies in Bihar, according to the Election Commission. He tweeted, “Once again- Modi Government! I and my party Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) stand firmly in support of the country’s successful Prime Minister, respected Shri @narendramodi ji.” He also said, “NDA is going to form the government with full majority under the leadership of Prime Minister ji. The country is going to get a strong and powerful government for the third time again.”

He and all his four party candidates are expected to win in Bihar.

The Congress was also busy seeking more allies. In a bid to woo Naidu, it tweeted that the party’s 2024 election manifesto pledged to declare special category status to Andhra Pradesh. “This is our guarantee.”