With the latest poll results, the BJP now controls 12 states on its own, while the Congress currently controls only three, following electoral defeats in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.
The states governed by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will now constitute nearly half of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, with only two states governed by parties not aligned with either the NDA or the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) accounting for less than 50 Lok Sabha seats. With governments in both Delhi and Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is at present the third-largest national party.
The BJP once again relied on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity, having presented no chief minister candidates in the run-up to the Assembly elections. Leader after leader has thanked Modi and his 'guarantees' for the triple triumph. Meanwhile, the Congress was able to seize Telangana from the BRS, whose chief K Chandrasekhar Rao was hoping to defy anti-incumbency and return to power for a third time. The performance of the Congress casts doubt on INDIA's Opposition alliance. Many alliance leaders are unimpressed with the Congress' decision to call a meeting of alliance leaders on December 6.
The Congress has lost its toehold in the north, with only Himachal Pradesh in its bank, after losing Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh and failing to clinch a win in Madhya Pradesh. The outcome of the Assembly elections enhanced the BJP's grip on the Hindi heartland. The BJP and its allies have expanded their footprint across north, west, and north-east India in preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Only in the south and east do the Congress and other opposition parties have a presence.
