Election Results 2024: Votes are being counted for the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls, held over 44 days from April 19 to June 1. Nearly 97 crore people were eligible to vote and over 8,391 candidates contested this election to 543 seats in the Lower House of parliament. India created a world record this time with 64.2 crore voters, including 31.2 crore women, participating in the Lok Sabha elections.
Along with the Lok Sabha seats, counting is also being held for two state polls - Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. While Odisha voted in four phases, the polling in Arunachal Pradesh was held in just one. Votes for the other two states that held assembly polls - Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim - were counted on Sunday.
In the last Lok Sabha election in 2019, the ruling BJP recorded a massive victory, winning 303 seats - 21 more than its 2014 score. The BJP-led NDA alliance managed to cross the 350 mark. The main Opposition, Congress, managed only 52 seats - marginally higher than its 2014 score of 44 - and the UPA alliance had a total score of 91. The BJP received 37.7 per cent of the votes polled - improving on its 2014 vote-share - and the Congress's vote-share was 19.7 per cent.
This time, the BJP has set a target of winning 370 seats by itself and 400 seats for NDA. If three exit polls are to be believed, the BJP should achieve this ambitious target. However, an aggregate of 12 exit polls suggests the NDA could score 365, which is below its target but much higher than the 272 seats needed to form government in the country.
A new Lok Sabha has to be in place before its current term ends on June 16. The Lok Sabha election results are a barometer of public sentiment and a crucial determinant of India's political trajectory, influencing everything from policy-making to international relations. They reflect the dynamic and diverse nature of Indian democracy, where the voice of every citizen can shape the direction of the nation.
All India Results | Map: 2024 vs 2019 | Poll Infographics | Zones | Parties | Heavyweights | Leading Candidates
