Summary: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, poised for a third term, criticized the Congress party following the BJP’s election win, aided by Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JDU. Despite the BJP securing only 240 seats, the coalition with TDP and JDU helped the NDA surpass the 272-seat majority mark. Modi highlighted Congress’s ongoing struggle, noting their failure to cross the 100-seat mark in the past three elections combined. The Congress, leading the INDIA opposition bloc, won 99 seats, its best performance in 15 years, compared to 44 in 2014 and 52 in 2019. Modi emphasized the importance of coalition politics and trust among allies, acknowledging the crucial support from TDP and JDU, which collectively won 28 seats, essential for the NDA’s majority. Modi’s remarks underscored a shift from previous BJP majorities, reflecting a new era of reliance on coalition partners.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, set to begin his third term, launched a sharp critique of the Congress party following the BJP’s election win, facilitated by the support of allies Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JDU. Despite the BJP securing only 240 seats, its lowest in 15 years, the coalition with TDP and JDU pushed the NDA past the 272-seat majority mark.
Modi highlighted the Congress party’s continued struggle to secure significant seats in the Lok Sabha elections. “Even after 10 years Congress could not touch the figure of 100 seats. If we combine the 2014, 2019, and 2024 elections… Congress did not even get as many seats as BJP got in this election. I can clearly see people of INDI Alliance (the BJP’s jibe at the INDIA bloc) were sinking slowly earlier… now they are going to sink at a faster pace…” he stated.
The Congress, leading the INDIA opposition bloc, secured 99 seats out of the 328 it contested. This marks its best performance in 15 years, compared to 44 seats in 2014 and 52 in 2019. The party last achieved a triple-digit win in 2009 with 206 seats, leading to a second term for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the United Progressive Alliance.
Modi, while taunting the Congress, acknowledged the crucial role of coalition politics and allies in his speech. “Our alliance reflects the spirit of India and we are dedicated to upholding constitutional values. NDA is the most successful…” he said, emphasizing the importance of trust and consensus in governance.
The BJP’s reliance on allies marks a shift from its previous brute majorities in 2014 and 2019. The support from Naidu’s TDP and Kumar’s JDU, which won 28 seats collectively, was vital for the NDA’s majority. Without their backing, the NDA would have fallen short of the numbers required to form the government.
In a conciliatory tone, Modi remarked, “Our values are such we do not develop frenzy during victory and do not mock the defeated. We do not have perversion of mocking the defeated.” This statement, however, came amid his sharp criticisms of the Congress’s performance.
The Congress might still reach the 100-seat mark if Vishal Patil, a party rebel who won from Maharashtra’s Sangli, re-joins the party. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge indicated this possibility, posting on X, “Welcoming the support of elected MP from Sangli, Shri Vishal Patil to the Congress party.”
As Modi prepares for his third term, the political landscape reflects a strong reliance on coalition dynamics, with key allies playing pivotal roles in shaping the government.
