Borthakur.
Space and Culture, India 2024, 12:1 Page | 1
https://doi.org/10.20896/saci.v12i2.1539
EDITORIAL OPEN ACCESS
India’s General Election: Verdict 2024-A Reflection of Public Political Decisions
Palme Borthakur†
Abstract
2024 has been a year of elections around the world, including the developed nations—the USA, the
UK, the European Union and the Russian Federation alongside countries like India, Mexico, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Iran (the Islamic Republic of), South Africa, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Algeria,
Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Ghana, Mozambique, Madagascar, Venezuela, (the Bolivarian
Republic of), Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), Taiwan, Syrian Arab Republic,
Mali, Sri Lanka, Romania, Chad, Senegal, Cambodia, Rwanda, Tunisia, Belgium, Dominic Republic,
Jordan, South Sudan, Czechia (Czech Republic), Azerbaijan, Portugal, Belarus, Togo, Austria, El
Salvador, Slovakia, Finland, Mauritania, Panama, Croatia, Georgia, Mongolia, Uruguay, Republic of
Moldova, Lithuania Botswana, Namibia, Guinea Bissau and North Macedonia. This editorial is
devoted to the verdict of India’s General Election 2024.
The results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections have trickled in by defying most of the expectations of
the exit polls. The graph of the results projected a different picture, with the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) grabbing 293 seats in the 543-member Parliament. At
the same time, the coalition of opposition parties, collectively known as the Indian National
Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), accomplished 234, which is 38 less than the required
majority. As a twist in the election results, the regional parties made significant gains in many states.
Congress bagged a strong revival, which was hugely attributed to the Bharat Jodo Yatra and Nyay
Yatra under the architect of Mr Rahul Gandhi. Nevertheless, with its allies, BJP-led NDA is on board
as Modi 3.0 leads the largest democracy.
Keywords: Election Results; Lok Sabha; Government: Coalition; Democracy; India
†
Head of the Department & Assistant Professor, Department of Earth Science, University of Science & Technology,
Meghalaya; Member of the Editorial Team of the Journal Space and Culture, India
Email: palme.borthakur@gmail.com
© 2024 Borthakur. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution
License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction
in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Borthakur. Space and Culture, India 2024, 12:1 Page | 2
Introduction: Democracy Stands Tall!
Source: National Portal of India (https://www.india.gov.in)
The 18th General Elections of India were held in participation of the voters, the collective efforts
seven phases from 19 April to 01 June 2024. This of political parties, the dedication of election
was so far the largest-ever election to elect 543 personnel, and above all, the security forces
members of the Lok Sabha (House of the People, bagged much credit and respect for the smooth
the lower house of India’s bicameral functioning of the entire election process. It was
Parliament), where electorates of the largest a mammoth exercise completed in world history.
Democracy could participate. The highest The verdict of the election, which was declared
electorate turnout at 69.16% was recorded in on 04 June 2024, unfolded as the restoration of
the 4th Phase. In comparison, the lowest was democracy in a balanced way. BJP (Bharatiya
recorded in Phase 7, which was 61.63% (Table 1). Janata Party)-led National Democratic Alliance
The mass participation of the electorate and (NDA) formed the Government for the third
their decision-making has proved once again consecutive year as Modi 3.0 with Indian
that the ‘people’ are the pivot of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance
democracy. Most of the election took place in (INDIA) (allies), bringing hope to make a better
scorching temperatures (around 500 C) in most India.
of the country’s regions. Besides the active
Table 1: Phases & Electorates, India, 2024
Election 2024 Phases Electorate turnout (in percentage)
Phase 1, 19 April 66.14
Phase 2, 26 April 66.71
Phase 3, 7 May 65.68
Phase 4, 13 May 69.16
Phase 5, 20 May 62.2
Phase 6, 25 May 63.37
Phase 7, 01 June’24 61.63
Source: National Portal of India, https://www.india.gov.in
Discussion mark. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat
Jodo Yatra’ and ‘Nyay Yatra’ perhaps played a
It is all about gaining a solid opposition
magical role.
The verdict of the Election 2024 unfolded a
In the major cities of North and Central India, out
different landscape where the BJP fell short of
of 21 Constituencies, BJP-led NDA won 19 seats,
an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha by more
including Delhi, Gurgaon, Bhopal and Lucknow.
than 30 seats. This was far away from their claim
In the South Indian States, BJP won 29 seats by
during the campaign with the 2024 slogan, Abki
securing eight seats in Telangana, three
baar 400 paar (this time, more than 400 seats).
constituencies in Andhra Pradesh, 17 in
On the contrary, the result surprisingly marked
Karnataka and one in Kerala. In the States of
the strong revival of Congress led-INDIA with
North East India, the BJP could secure only 13
234 seats, which was 38 less than the majority
seats in Assam(9), Arunachal Pradesh(2) and
Borthakur. Space and Culture, India 2024, 12:1 Page | 3
Tripura(2). Congress bags all seats in Manipur in opportunities must be created for the flourishing
the 2024 Elections; in 2019, they failed to secure youth from the country’s fastest-growing
a single seat in the State. economy. The people opined that they are
Another breakthrough was that the regional satisfied with the General Election 2024 verdict,
parties, namely Janata Dal (United) JD(U), Shiv as a single majority Government may shade the
Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT)) and essence of democracy at times. The results of
Samajwadi Party made significant gains in the the Election, indeed, have projected the picture
states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Uttar of a strong democratic nation.
Pradesh and West Bengal respectively. This Conclusion
return of regional parties made democracy stand This multi-phased Lok Sabha Elections 2024 was
tall, shifting the political scenario towards a the largest ever so far that the world witnessed.
competitive, solid opposition. Above all, the final About 66% of the largest democracy took part in
verdict ensured a humble beginning of a the electorate process. The Election Commission
coalition government rather than a single-party of India (ECI) should be appreciated for its ability
dominance at the centre, leading towards a to successfully conduct such an extensive
dynamic future for India. exercise. The elections are never just about
Public Political Decisions winning or defeating; they are more about
creating stable governance and strong
The General Elections of 2024 produced
opposition to create a balance. The EC could
surprising results, revoking many assumptions
justifiably claim to have lived up to its own high
and speculations. This is the proud face of New
standards. “Parinaam mein hi pramaan hai (the
India Politics, where the electorate supports a
result is the proof)”, said the CEC. The verdict of
system of fair play, restoration of democracy,
the elections for a coalition government
and balanced governance. The voters clearly
reinforces India’s strength of diversity and
indicated that jobs and economic development
signifies the role of states and regional political
matter the most in this largest democracy.
parties in democracy. Enforcement of one leader
While writing this editorial, an online survey on and one ideology can never be the vision of a
Post Poll results,2024, was conducted, reflecting diverse country like India, and the people have
very interesting facts about the political proved it loud and clear in 2024. As the BJP-led
decision-making as an electorate of the country. NDA and the allies created a coalition
As per the survey analysis, 66.7% of the Government after the historical verdict of 4th
respondents voted in the General Election 2024. June 2024, let’s hope for more democracy and a
Only 16.7% of respondents believe that the BJP- healthy Parliament in the dynamic Modi 3.0.
led NDA government was working in the right
Further Reading
direction to benefit the people and the country.
When asked how they chose their political Article (2024, June 5). Election Results 2024:
candidate to vote in the election, 41.7% Rise of Rahul Gandhi, Regional Satraps, and Fall
mentioned that they did proper research about of Modi Stocks - How Lok Sabha polls changed
the candidate's political career, 33.3% opined Indian politics. The Economic Times.
that they were influenced by the social media, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/el
16.7% decided by TV channel News coverage, ections/lok-sabha/india/election-results-2024-
and 8.3% took the help of various newspaper rise-of-rahul-gandhi-regional-satraps-and-fall-
articles. While asking about what they want the of-modi-stocks-how-lok-sabha
New Government to focus on, the respondents Editorial (2024, June 5). People at the Centre:
want the government to focus on the economic On the Election Results 2024. The Hindu.
development of the people, solving ethnic https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/p
clashes, enhancing medical care as well as more eople-at-the-centre-on-the-2024-
work in science and technology rather than verdict/article68251276.ece
highlighting religious sentiments. Greater
Borthakur. Space and Culture, India 2024, 12:1 Page | 4
Editorial (2024, June 5). Verdict 2024 is for not in support forces him to rely on coalition
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Modi claims victory in India’s election but drop
bilities
