Congress Falls Short of 100 Seats Yet Again, Modi Mocks Rival’s Electoral Performance
Summary:Narendra Modi, set for a third term as Prime Minister, taunted Congress for failing to cross 100 seats in recent elections, contrasting it with BJP’s performance. Despite BJP’s reduced tally, Modi celebrated NDA’s success, emphasizing governance through consensus. Congress’s best result in 15 years fell short of Modi’s comparison. Coalition dynamics and negotiations for ministerial berths continue amid speculation about alliances. As Modi prepares for his third term, Indian politics remains charged with anticipation.
New Delhi: Narendra Modi, set to be sworn in for a third consecutive term as Prime Minister, took a swipe at the Congress party for its continued inability to breach the 100-seat mark in the recent elections. Despite the BJP’s reduced tally of 240 seats, Modi celebrated the NDA alliance’s success in crossing the crucial 272-seat threshold, largely due to the support of Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JDU.
In a scathing remark, Modi criticized the Congress’s performance over the past decade, stating, “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.”
The Congress, leading the INDIA opposition bloc, secured 99 seats out of the 328 it contested, marking its best performance in 15 years. However, this fell short of Modi’s pointed comparison to the BJP’s achievements in a single election.
Modi’s jibe may appear premature, as there’s a possibility of the Congress reaching the 100-seat milestone if Vishal Patil, a party rebel who won from Maharashtra’s Sangli, rejoins the party. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge hinted at this potential return in a recent post on social media.
In his address, Modi emphasized the importance of governance through consensus and coalition politics, highlighting the NDA’s commitment to upholding constitutional values. Acknowledging his reliance on allies, Modi underscored the trust between parties within the alliance, signaling a departure from the brute majorities enjoyed by the BJP in previous elections.
The BJP’s aspirations of securing 370 seats for itself and over 400 with allies were curtailed by setbacks in key states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, where it lost significant ground to the opposition. Nonetheless, with the support of the TDP and JDU, the BJP is poised to form the government once again.
The dynamics of coalition politics continue to evolve as parties negotiate for ministerial berths and key positions. While there’s speculation about the INDIA bloc’s potential collaboration with former ally Nitish Kumar, sources close to him have ruled out such a move, indicating the complex interplay of interests and ambitions within the political landscape.
As Narendra Modi prepares for his third term as Prime Minister, the political arena remains charged with anticipation and intrigue, reflecting the ever-changing dynamics of Indian democracy.
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