Lok Sabha Election 2024 Results LIVE: Congress Reaches 100 Seats, Poised for Biggest Tally Since 2014

New Delhi — The Congress party is set to secure over 100 seats in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, marking a significant improvement from their 44 seats in 2014 and 52 seats in 2019. In the 2009 elections, the Congress, leading the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), won 206 seats.

Early Leads and Alliances

As of 10 AM, the Congress-led INDIA bloc, formed in June last year to counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), is leading in 212 seats. The NDA has surged ahead in 299 seats, surpassing the halfway mark of 272 early in the counting process, which began with postal ballots this morning.

Historical Context

2014 Elections:

• Congress Performance: Led by Rahul Gandhi, the Congress faced a severe defeat due to the ‘Modi wave,’ dropping to 44 seats from 206 in 2009, with a 9.3% decrease in vote share.
• BJP Success: The BJP swept the Hindi heartland, winning 336 of the 543 seats, including 282 seats on its own.
• NDA Performance: Secured significant wins in key states like Uttar Pradesh (73 seats), Maharashtra (41), Bihar (31), and Madhya Pradesh (27). They also swept Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, and dominated in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Haryana.

2019 Elections:

• BJP Performance: The BJP increased its tally to 303 seats on its own, and 353 with allies.
• Key Regions: Continued dominance in the Hindi belt, securing 238 seats from states including Uttar Pradesh (74), Bihar (39), and Madhya Pradesh (28).
• Congress Struggles: The Congress, under Rahul Gandhi, managed only six seats on its own and seven with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. Gandhi lost his Amethi seat to BJP’s Smriti Irani and resigned as Congress President after the defeat.

2024 Election Dynamics

Exit Polls Predictions:

• Optimistic Projections for NDA: Some exit polls, such as India Today-Axis My India and India TV-CNX, project the NDA could win up to 401 seats. Others estimate the coalition’s strength at around 400 seats.
• INDIA Bloc Projections: Despite some skepticism, the INDIA bloc leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, assert they will secure 295 seats. However, exit polls show varying predictions, with the bloc expected to win between 107 and 182 seats.

Current Situation

The BJP appears to be on track to achieve its internal goal of 370 seats, edging closer to the ambitious target of 400 seats when including its NDA partners. The Congress, achieving a milestone of 100 seats, is positioned for its best performance since the 2014 elections, reflecting a resurgence in support.

Stay tuned for further updates as the counting progresses and final results are announced.