Triumph of Democracy! How Lok Sabha election results 2024 reflect true democratic spirit!

Also read in বাংলা 

This year's Lok Sabha election results truly represent a triumph of democracy. The victory belongs to Indian democracy because, as you might have noticed, when the results became clearer yesterday evening, supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated in full swing.

Similarly, the Indian National Congress, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, and other smaller parties also celebrated their wins.

This is the essence of democracy. A strong opposition is crucial for democracy, as a robust opposition ensures a strong government. This synergy between the government and the opposition benefits democracy. Now, let’s delve into the analysis of the election results.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for "Ab Ki Baar 400 Paar!" (This time, over 400 seats!), but the BJP fell far short of this target. In fact, the BJP did not even achieve a simple majority on its own and will need to form a government with its allies in the NDA.

The results in Uttar Pradesh played a significant role in this outcome. Before the seven-phase voting began, political experts predicted a clean sweep for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.

However, the Samajwadi Party (SP) was much more active at the ground level compared to the last two Lok Sabha elections.

Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, in collaboration with Congress's Rahul Gandhi, conducted impressive campaigns, resulting in the Rahul-Akhilesh duo becoming a super hit in UP.

This dynamic halted the BJP's quest for an outright majority. Notably, the BJP’s Ram Mandir issue did not sway voters in Ayodhya itself, a critical factor in UP politics.

BJP supporters were also optimistic about Maharashtra and West Bengal, but the party did not meet expectations in these states either.

Several factors influenced this election, such as caste politics and unemployment in UP, which swayed many Dalit votes towards Akhilesh. Nationwide, rising prices of essential goods, contrary to the BJP's 2014 promise to control inflation, also played a crucial role.

This was a factor highlighted by Smriti Irani's protest against the UPA government in 2014, yet ignored when her party came to power. 

This Lok Sabha election will hold a special place in Indian political history for several reasons, one of which is the complete failure of Exit Polls.

Two days before the results, national media exit polls predicted 350 to 430 seats for the BJP and NDA. However, the actual results revealed a starkly different picture, raising questions about the credibility of exit polls. 

This election outcome has highlighted several lessons for both the government and the opposition. While history suggests that Indian political parties rarely learn from past mistakes, the hope remains among the public. This is the essence of democracy.