After a day of setbacks and speculations over the next government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is returning to power for the third time.
Contrary to pollsters’ predictions, the BJP failed to secure the majority on its own as the INDIA bloc of Opposition parties displayed a better-than-expected performance. Even though the BJP has failed to reach the majority-mark of 272, the NDA has crossed the majority mark.
In a speech to BJP workers at the party headquarters, Modi said a third-consecutive victory is “remarkable” as no party has done so since 1962.
“For the first time since 1962, a government has come back to power for the third consecutive time which is a remarkable achievement,” said Modi.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha election results, the BJP was ahead on 240 seats and the NDA was on 292, according to CNN-News 18. The INDIA bloc was ahead on 233 seats. Modi said that the combined might of all the Opposition could not beat the BJP.
“Even after coming together, our opponents could not win the seats together that the BJP won on its own,” said Modi.
‘This is the victory of democracy’
Thanking the people of the country for the mandate, Modi called the election results “a victory of democracy”.
He said, “This is the victory of democracy. This is victory of ‘Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas’. It is a victory of 140 crore people…We are grateful to the people for retaining their faith on NDA.”
Modi further said that the people have “blessed” him in the elections and that he bows to their faith in him.
“For the last 10 years, we have been striving to take the country to greater heights. People have given their blessing to the NDA for the third successive time. I bow to the people for their faith,” said Modi.
He further said, “I want to tell the people and opinion-makers that India’s vibrant democracy is a matter of pride. Today is Bada Mangal and on this auspicious day, NDA is set to form the government for the third consecutive time. We are all very grateful to the people. The countrymen have expressed full faith in the BJP and the NDA.”
An election of many firsts
The fact that Modi is sure of returning to power for the third consecutive term —a feat unprecedented since the time of first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru— is not the only that makes these Lok Sabha elections unprecedented.
In the assembly elections in Odisha which were held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP is on its way to victory by relegating the state’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to a distant second.
In his speech, Modi hailed the Odisha election results and said it was the first time that a BJP’s CM would serve in “Maha Prabhu’s Land” — a reference to Hindu deity Lord Jagannath.
“People of the nation have reposed their faith in the BJP and the NDA, and our victory is a win for the world’s biggest democracy. We are forming the government in Odisha. This is the first time that BJP’s CM is at Maha Prabhu land. For the first time on the land of Mahaprabhu Jagannath a BJP CM will take oath,” said Modi.
For the first time, the BJP won a seat in Kerala and Modi mentioned that in his speech. In an apparent reference to political violence in the state, Modi said, “The BJP won a seat in Kerala, Our workers have worked hard & did sacrifices. Today success has been achieved due to their tireless dedication & work. In Telangana, our strength has been doubled now.”
It was also the first Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and the conversion into a union territory from a state.
Modi said, “In this election, the voters of Jammu and Kashmir have shown unprecedented enthusiasm by voting in record numbers. They have shown the mirror to anti-India elements who defame the country in the world.”
Modi sets tone for 3rd term
Even as the meetings of the NDA and the Opposition bloc INDIA are yet to take place to hammer out strategies for what lies ahead, Modi was upbeat in his address to the party workers and sought to set the tone for his third straight term.
Modi said that that “big decisions” have been taken in the past 10 years and more are in the offing.
We have shown the mettle in the last 10 years to make big decisions. We have been running the world’s biggest welfare schemes. We have implemented reforms such as GST and banking,” said Modi.
Modi said the NDA government will not stop “until poverty is eliminated” in India. He further said it will continue the work towards making India self-reliant in defence sector.
Outlining the agenda for the third term, Modi said, “We will initiate new reform measures in the NDA’s third term to propel the economy. To make India world’s third-biggest economy, the NDA government will leave no stone unturned. We must hit hard on corruption if we want to move ahead, but the reality is that fighting against corruption is becoming difficult with time.”
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‘NDA will form govt for 3rd time’: PM Modi hails Lok Sabha election results, sets tone for next term
