BJP's '400 paar' slogan falls short; UP defeat deals major blow to party's performance
PTC Web Desk: In the run-up to the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the BJP set a highly ambitious target: "aab ki baar 400 paar" (this time, over 400 seats). This war cry, reflecting the party's confidence and aggressive campaigning, aimed to surpass their previous high mark of 303 seats secured in the 2019 LS elections. However, as counting trends began to emerge, it became apparent that the BJP would fall short of this lofty goal.
Early trends painted a "grim picture" for the saffron party. Despite a vigorous campaign led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and key party leaders, the BJP struggled to achieve the desired numbers. By midday, the trends indicated that the BJP was not only missing the 400-seat mark but also failing to reach its internal target of 370 seats on its own.
In the 2019 elections, the BJP secured 303 seats, comfortably surpassing the majority mark of 272 required to form the government. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the BJP, captured a total of 353 seats, achieving a strike rate of 65.1% (353/542). The BJP alone garnered 37.36% of the total votes, while the NDA's collective vote share was around 45%.
This time around, the NDA's vote share showed a slight increase, with trends at noon indicating a 46% vote share. However, this uptick in vote share did not translate into a significant increase in seats for the BJP. Two crucial states, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, where the party had shown strong performance in 2019, proved to be less favourable this time.
In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP had won 62 out of 80 seats in 2019. However, this time, the BJP trailed behind the INDIA bloc, a coalition of opposition parties. This significant setback in Uttar Pradesh, a politically crucial state, has been a major blow to the BJP's overall performance. Similarly, in Maharashtra, where the BJP secured 23 out of 48 seats in 2019, the party's numbers saw a decline this time.
The BJP's inability to replicate its previous performance in these states highlights the challenges it faced in maintaining its dominance. Factors such as anti-incumbency, local issues, and the united opposition front have played crucial roles in altering the electoral dynamics.
As the final results are awaited, it is clear that the BJP will need to reassess its strategies and address the emerging challenges to consolidate its position. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections, while not delivering the '400 paar' target, underscore the evolving and dynamic nature of Indian democracy, where voter sentiments and political alliances continue to shape the electoral landscape.
- With inputs from agencies
