New Delhi: The counting process is in full swing as the nation eagerly awaits the Lok Sabha election results. According to the latest trends, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) appears to be securing 292 seats, while the INDIA alliance is closely trailing with 233 seats.
NDA’s Majority and INDI’s Prospects
The NDA, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seems poised to form the government at the center. However, the INDIA alliance, despite trailing in seat count, remains a formidable contender. To understand how the INDIA alliance can still vie for power, let’s delve into the numbers.
A total of 272 seats is required to secure a majority in the Lok Sabha. With 233 seats, the INDI alliance is just 39 seats away from the magic number. To bridge this gap, it will need to forge additional alliances beyond its existing partners.
Mamata Banerjee’s Role
During the formation of the INDI alliance, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee played a crucial role. She proposed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge as the alliance’s candidate. Despite the Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) contesting separately due to seat-sharing disagreements in Bengal, Mamata Didi expressed her support for INDI.
Speculation is rife that the INDIA alliance could seek support from the TMC. As of now, the TMC has won 14 seats and is leading in 15 more. If it secures these additional 15 seats, it would contribute 29 MPs to the alliance. Even with Mamata’s backing, the INDIA alliance would still need 10 more MPs to reach the majority mark.
Nitish Kumar’s Potential Return
JDU chief Nitish Kumar’s decision to break ties with the Grand Alliance and form a government with the BJP in January 2024 surprised many. Previously, Nitish had united opposition parties to create the INDI alliance. Lalu Yadav had hinted at Nitish’s possible return after the Lok Sabha elections.
Political experts speculate that if the INDIA alliance extends a favorable offer to Nitish Kumar, he might reconsider. His silence on the election results thus far adds to the intrigue.
Chandrababu Naidu’s Influence
In Andhra Pradesh, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fought the elections together. The counting process covers both the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and Lok Sabha seats. Out of the 175 assembly seats, the TDP is projected to win 130, while the BJP leads in seven.
The TDP’s performance in the Lok Sabha elections, where it could secure 16 seats, may play a pivotal role. Congress, eyeing potential allies, might seek to bring TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu into its fold.
