Kingmaker Chandrababu Naidu to address media to clear air on who he’ll support
As the dust settles after the Lok Sabha election battle, political leaders from both the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the INDIA bloc are descending upon the nation’s capital to chart the course of the next government.
The results of the elections, which unfolded in the 543-member Parliament, have set the stage for a coalition regime and intense negotiations, with the BJP-led NDA clinching 294 seats and the INDIA bloc securing 234. In the game of numbers, a two-thirds majority of 272 seats is required for forming a government.
Among the prominent figures making their way to Delhi are Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal United (JDU) chief Nitish Kumar, and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu, representing the NDA alliance. In a twist of fate, Nitish Kumar found himself sharing airspace with his former ally from the INDIA bloc, Tejashwi Yadav, a leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which is part of rival INDIA bloc.
The Union Cabinet is slated to convene at 3.30 pm, while the INDIA bloc’s meeting is scheduled for 6 pm, setting the tempo for what promises to be a day of intense deliberations and strategic manoeuvers.
The electoral landscape in Bihar reflects the intricate dance of alliances and rivalries, with the JD(U) securing victory in 12 of the 40 seats. The BJP got 12 seats while the RJD clinched four seats and the Congress managed to secure three.
Chandrababu Naidu, emerging as a significant player in the political arena, is poised to address the media, potentially wielding considerable influence as the kingmaker in the aftermath of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Despite securing a third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP finds itself in uncharted territory, falling short of the coveted majority mark by 32 seats. The party’s tally of 240 seats marks a significant decrease from its 2019 triumph of 303 seats. Meanwhile, the Congress has displayed notable resurgence, notching up victories in 99 seats.
The INDIA bloc’s formidable performance, surpassing the 230-mark, underscores the resilience and unpredictability of Indian politics, setting the stage for a complex web of alliances and negotiations as the nation braces itself for the formation of its next government.
In a departure from the norm, the BJP, accustomed to wielding power independently since its resounding victory in 2014, now finds itself compelled to seek support from within its coalition, relying on key players such as JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar and TDP’s Chandrababu Naidu to navigate the turbulent waters of coalition politics.
