The BJP-led NDA alliance looks set to return to power. Get the 2019 Lok Sabha election results day highlights below.
Get the 2019 Lok Sabha election results day highlights below.
While the final results are yet to be out, most of the trends indicate that the National Democratic Alliance is returning to power and Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister. Both the BJP and the NDA are likely to get more seats than 2014. An expensive, communally charged, personality-centered campaign seems to have paid off for the BJP, which made major gains in West Bengal and Jharkhand, among other states, while retaining its stranglehold over Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra. The hopes of strong resistance from the Gathbandhan in Uttar Pradesh were belied as the BJP more or less retained its vote share while losing only a few seats.(Get the 2019 Lok Sabha election results day highlights below.)
Tamil Nadu remained one of the few states to buck the trend, with the DMK-led alliance sweeping the state. Kerala saw massive gains for the Congress, probably due to a consolidation of minority votes against the BJP and at least a small shift of voters from the BJP to the UDF. In Odisha, the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD stormed back to power in the state and won the majority of Lok Sabha seats. In Andhra Pradesh, Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy is set to the become the Chief Minister for the first time, marking a dramatic turnaround in his political career. In Telangana, K. Chandrashekhar Rao’s dominance continues unchallenged.
The coming days will be important for India’s political landscape. Bolstered by the strong mandate, the BJP will next cast its eyes on the State governments of Karnataka, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, and perhaps even West Bengal. The new government is also likely to continue unabated policies that have caused mass despair, especially in rural India. For people’s movements and the left, which plummeted to a new low in these election, the questions of how to take these issues to the masses and mobilise them effectively is an issue that will call for serious thought.
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Women Voters and Pertinent Issues
For the first time, at least in popular memory, more women are likely to have voted in India’s elections. Surveys seem to indicate a majority are concerned about safety and solutions to crimes against women, in addition to the economic parameters that concern the country as a whole. The lack of jobs is high on that list. The reality: crimes against women are at unprecedented highs and conviction rates at an all-time low. Sex ratios (at birth) are on the decline in as many as 17 states and female foeticide remains one of the most under-discussed acts of violence. But, hey, cooking gas is cheaper (not)!
BJP Sidesteps Cow Menace
Owing to the maximum number of parliamentary seats (80), Uttar Pradesh is one of the most crucial states for the national political parties. Even as the state suffered cow menace, a spate of incidents of lynching in the name of cow vigilantism and spine-breaking economic disasters, the ruling BJP seems to be doing well in the state. As per the trends on the EC website, BJP has taken a lead in 55 seats out of 80, while the Gathbandhan seems to be leading in only 22 seats.
Punjab Favours Congress Once Again
As the BJP continues to do well in the other states, the voters in Punjab seem to have favoured Congress once again, as it leads in 8 out of the 13 parliamentary seats. Aam Aadmi Party, which had managed to make its debut in parliamentary politics with 4 seats in Punjab in 2014, is now leading in only one seat in the state.
Bihar Leads in NOTA Votes
The proportion of voters that did not choose to go with any of the political parties was the highest in Bihar, with 2.16% of the voters opting for NOTA, indicate the trends so far. For all the other states, the NOTA vote share remained below 2%.
NC Leading in J&K
National Conference is leading in 3 seats in J&K out of 6. BJP is leading in 2 and an independent candidate is leading in the remaining seat. In the largest parliamentary constituency of Anantnag, which is also considered as the hotbed of militancy, elections were held in 3 phases.
Polling was marred by widespread violence and witnessed a very low voter turnout. Observers and experts noted that this shows people's lack of faith in the democratic process. This is an extremely dangerous trend, especially in a restive state like J&K.
— Election Commission #DeshKaMahatyohar (@ECISVEEP) May 23, 2019
Rahul Gandhi Set to Win in Wayanad, Seesaw Battle in Amethi
It’s a seesaw battle in Amethi with Rahul Gandhi and Smriti Irani trading leads, with Gandhi now leading with a narrow margin. He was also contesting from Wayanad, a traditional UDF seat, and is leading with a margin of over 2 lakh votes.
How did India vote?
Our expert panel comprising senior journalists Abhisar Sharma and Bhasha Singh, along with Prabir Purkayastha and Bappa Sinha are analysing trends based on shifts in vote shares and swings. Tune in to NewsClick to find out how India voted.
Hatred has Intensified, Institutionalised: Bhasha Singh
Bhasha Singh notes changes in the ground situation over the past few years. Hatred has intensified and become institutionalised. This is perhaps one of the reasons for the surge of the BJP. The right-wing shift in the economy that began in the 1990s has been completed in the political and social fields too.
Gatbandhan Does Well in Western UP
In Western UP, where the impact of the agrarian crisis was the most intense, the Gatbandhan has done well. The BJP is sweeping the rest of the state.
Chandrababu Naidu Suffers Massive Blow
For Chandrababu Naidu, who was hoping to play a major role in deciding the next government, these elections have been a major blow. The Telugu Desam Party is leading in only one Lok Sabha constituency and in 25 of the 174 Assembly constituencies. His arch rival Jagan Mohan Reddy, meanwhile, is leading in 24 Lok Sabha constituencies and 148 Assembly seats.
Societal Dynamics
Middle/upper middle class seem mighty pleased with how the markets are reacting. The value of small investors’ portfolios is on the up so, while not everyone is celebrating, most don’t seem to mind. There are also references to the opposition being a “motley crew” that didn’t present a credible (yes, we are still using this sort of language) alternative. #DrFeelgood might have something to say about that. Service class/working pros, anecdotally, seem to be oblivious to the impact of polarising politics on the fabric of India. Each one for himself.
INCMP president Ratan Singh Suffers Cardiac Arrest
— Vaibhav Raghunandan (@vaibhavburps) May 23, 2019
The Great Election Game
In #otherelection news Narinder Batra, the man heading the international hockey federation and the Indian Olympic Association, is up for election to the hallowed portals of the International Olympic Committee. Given that we are (still) a nation suffering from mass malnourishment and with a third of its population sliding deeper into penury with every passing day, sport isn’t really top priority. India first competed at the summer Olympics in 1924 — a small step towards self rule, political autonomy and eventual independence. In these years our athletes have bagged a total of 28 medals. Six of nine gold came from hockey. The last came in 1980. Indian sports administrators, however, seem to be world class. If elected, Batra will join the likes of IOC member Nita Ambani and her family friend, FIFA Executive Council member and NCP leader(???) Praful Patel.
BJP's Negative Campaign Against Kanhaiya Pays off
As CPI's candidate from Begusarai, Kanhaiya Kumar, trails on the second position, senior journalist Bhasha Singh says, "Kanhaiya, as a young leader, proved to be strong candidate, but BJP ran a very intense negative campaign against him, terming him an anti-national."
'Agricultural Issues Not Translating into Political Issues'
Senior journalist Bhasha Singh says, "Voting trends, particularly in Maharashtra, indicate that agricultural issues are not translating into political issues. Even the worst drought in the generations has not made an impact."
Congress's Base Strengthened in South India?
Is the Congress now a South Indian party? 27 of the around 50 seats it could win are in Kerala, TN, and Telangana
Senior journalist Bhasha Singh says, "The most shocking trends are from Jharkhand. I saw extreme anger against Modi government among the tribals. Their land is being snatched away and their identity is being attacked. Yet, the BJP has managed to gain support there."
'Modi Made Elections All About Himself'
"These elections will be remembered in the history of Indian politics as how a man made the elections all about himself. These elections were fought as presidential elections," says senior journalist Abhisar Sharma.
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