The BJP has surged ahead of the Opposition alliance - INDIA - as counting of votes is underway for the Lok Sabha elections 2024. This time, the BJP has set a target of 370 seats for itself and 400 seats for NDA. Poll Pundits have predicted a third term for PM Narendra Modi. The Congress, attenuated by poll losses and a string of defections, is part of the Opposition bloc INDIA taking on the BJP. Any party or coalition needs a majority of 272 seats to form the government.

This year's Lok Sabha election was the second-longest since India's first election in 1951-52.

The contest between the BJP and INDIA alliance in the Lok Sabha polls is a reflection of a broader ideological battle.

The BJP's campaign was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The party's biggest star campaigner, PM Modi participated in over 200 public meetings, including rallies and roadshows. The INDIA bloc's campaign featured joint rallies by Opposition leaders.

The counting of votes started at 8 amid tight security. The counting of EVM votes will started 30 minutes after the postal ballot count.

Sensex down over 5,000 points, Nifty falls 1,447 as NDA hovers below 300 seats

Kangana Ranaut visit a temple with her mother as she races ahead in Mandi battle. She is contesting against Vikramaditya Singh of Congress.

Veteran actor and TMC leader Shatrughan Sinha is leading in Asansol Lok Sabha seat with a margin of over 26,000 votes.

BJP's Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua is trailing against Samajwadi Party's Dharmendra Yadav in Azamgarh.

Leads suggest that not only will the BJP emerge as the single largest party in Odisha in the Lok Sabha elections, decimating the BJD, but also win the Assembly polls, giving the state a different chief minister for the first time in 24 years.

Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav, his wife Dimple Yadav are leading by a comfortable margin in Uttar Pradesh. 

Conceding defeat, Dinesh Pratap Singh, BJP's Raebareli candidate who is contesting against Rahul Gandhi, aplogises for "lapses". Mr Singh is trailing in Raebareli seat. 

Actor Kangana Ranaut has taken a huge lead as per initial trends by the Election Commission. She is leading in Mandi seat with a margin over 70,000 seats. "They (opposition) will have to suffer the consequences of talking so low about a woman. Mandi has not taken kindly to the insults for daughters," Ms Ranaut said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is leading against Samajwadi Party's Ravidas Mehrotra in Lucknow with a margin of over 19, 642 votes. 

The BJP's Uttar Pradesh dominance faced a tough challenge from the INDIA bloc. At noon, the INDIA alliance of Samajwadi Party and Congress was leading on 42 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats -- five more than the NDA tally of 37. What led to the setback, read here

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference's Omar Abdullah have conceded defeat from Anantnag-Rajouri and Baramulla respectively. 

TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as voting is underway for Lok Sabha elections. N Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is set for a comeback in Andhra Pradesh, trends show. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to reach the BJP headquarters in Delhi soon. A large number of BJP leaders and workers have gathered at the party office.

After being defeated by Congress leader and Gandhi party loyalist KL Sharma in Amethi by 1,67,196 votes, BJP's Smriti Irani highlighted how she visited villages and built infrastructure in the Uttar Pradesh constituency. "Such is life... A decade of my life going from one village to another, building lives, nurturing hope and aspirations, working on infrastructure ― roads, naali, khadanja, bypass, medical college and more," Irani tweeted.

"To those who stood by me through loss and victory, I am forever grateful. To those celebrating today, congratulations. And to those asking, 'How's the josh?' I say - it's still high, sir," she said. 

PM Modi Said," People have placed their faith in NDA, for a third consecutive time! This is a historical feat in India’s history. I bow to the Janata Janardan for this affection and assure them that we will continue the good work done in the last decade to keep fulfilling the aspirations of people. I also salute all our Karyakartas for their hard work. Words will never do justice to their exceptional efforts.

"NDA is set to form government for the third time,” says PM Modi

“It is a victory for the pledge of a developed India. It is a win of unbroken trust on the constitution of India," says PM Modi

On Jammu and Kashmir, PM Modi says "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.

I bow before the people of the country on this victory."

“Every Indian is proud of our electoral system, its credibility,” says PM Modi

Opposition despite being united could not win as many seats as BJP got on its own: PM Modi in address to supporters at BJP headquarters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his victory speech at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, said that after 1962, it is the first time that a government has returned to power for the third consecutive time.

"There are many aspects of this mandate. After 1962, it is the first time that a government has returned to power for the third consecutive time after completing its two tenures," PM Modi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also thanked voters of Jammu and Kashmir for showing unprecedented enthusiasm by voting in record numbers in the Lok Sabha elections. "The voters of Jammu and Kashmir have shown unprecedented enthusiasm by voting in record numbers. They have also shown a mirror to those who try to defame the nation. I salute the people of this occasion of victory," he said.

Congress candidate Ujjwal Raman Singh on Tuesday secured a win on the Allahabad Lok Sabha seat, ending the party's 40-year-long dry patch when actor Amitabh Bachchan was elected. According to the Election Commission, Singh won the seat by a margin of 58,795 votes against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Neeraj Tripathi. Singh got a total of 4,62,145 votes, while Tripathi received 4,03,350 votes.

Impressed by the INDIA bloc's show in the Lok Sabha polls, Shiv Sena (UBT) president and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday pushed for staking a claim to form the next government at the Centre and said the opposition alliance's leaders will meet on Wednesday in New Delhi to decide on the Prime Minister's face. "There is a need to stake a claim to form the next government. The INDIA alliance meeting on Wednesday (in Delhi) will decide on the Prime Minister's face," he said. Thackeray also said leaders of the Congress and other parties are holding talks with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Telegu Desam Party (TDP) head Chandrababu Naidu to explore the possibility of their entry into the bloc.

The BJP bagged 78 seats in the 147-seat state assembly, while the BJD trailed behind as it was only able to get 51 seats, followed by Congress's 14 seats.

Read more here.

A day after the TDP's impressive performance from Andhra Pradesh in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, as well as Assembly elections, party chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday reaffirmed his decision to "firmly stay" with the NDA.

Read more here

Said he looked forward to working with him closely to further boost bilateral relations. He also praised the Prime Minister for his continuing efforts to take India to great heights.

"Congratulations to PM Narendra Modi on the electoral success of BJP and NDA in the Lok Sabha elections for the third consecutive term. We are happy to note the successful completion of the world's largest democratic exercise with the enthusiastic participation of the people of India," Prachanda tweeted.

"Congratulations to @narendramodi on the new electoral victory and my warmest wishes for good work. Certain that we will continue to work together to strengthen the friendship that unites Italy and India and consolidate cooperation on the various issues that bind us, for the well-being of our nations and our people," she tweeted.

"Congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi, and the BJP and BJP-led NDA, on the success in the 2024 Indian General Election, for the third consecutive term. I look forward to working together to advance our shared interests in pursuit of shared prosperity and stability for our two countries," Muizzu tweeted.

Congratulating PM Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hoped that India and Israel would "continue to surge towards new heights".

"I extend my warmest congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on being reelected for a third consecutive term.
May the friendship between India and Israel continue to surge towards new heights. Badhaai Ho!" Netanyahu tweeted.

BJP-led NDA parties to meet President today, stake claim to form government: Sources

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