New Delhi: With neither party securing a majority, the fate of the government formation at the centre lies in the hands of JDU leader Nitish Kumar and TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu. As both the BJP and the Congress, leading the India Alliance, vie for power, efforts to secure the support of Nitish and Naidu have commenced.
The Congress is exploring the possibility of forming a government with former allies, the JD (U) and TDP. Discussions on this matter will be held during a meeting with other parties of the India Alliance scheduled for Wednesday. Reports suggest that the India Alliance has promised Naidu special status for Andhra Pradesh in exchange for Nitish being appointed as Deputy Prime Minister.
Despite denials from NCP leader Sharad Pawar, rumours persist about his involvement in these negotiations. Nitish’s history of switching alliances poses a challenge for the BJP, with speculation suggesting he might lean towards the India Alliance. On the other hand, JDU has affirmed its commitment to remain with the NDA.
Congress Resurgence
In a remarkable turnaround from winning only 52 seats in 2019, the Congress-led India Alliance secured 100 seats, surpassing exit poll projections of 234 seats. Noteworthy victories include 43 seats in Uttar Pradesh, eight seats in Rajasthan, and five seats in Haryana, where the party had no representation in 2019. Significant gains were also made in Maharashtra and Telangana, with the party’s vote share increasing from 19% to 24.84%.
Didi’s Triumph in Bengal
Trinamool Congress’s decisive victory in West Bengal defied pre-election surveys and exit polls, with the party securing two-thirds of the total seats. Mamata Banerjee’s leadership and welfare schemes played a pivotal role in regaining the party’s lost dominance in 2019. The anti-incumbency wave against the central administration, rather than the state government, was evident from the election results. Despite a joint campaign by Congress and the CPM, voters preferred to trust Trinamool over the third-party experiment. This victory has positioned Trinamool and Mamata strategically in the India Alliance.
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