Lok Sabha election results 2024: Can the INDI Alliance stake claim to form the government?

It’s a full 24 hours after counting and the results are in and final. The BJP-led NDA has bagged 292 seats while the INDI Alliance has surprised all by securing 234 seats.

While the NDA has won the election, the BJP, considered the biggest player of the bloc, has been unable to pass the magic number of 272. Hence, becoming dependent on its other allies and putting the spotlight on coalition politics.

Now, attention has shifted to government formation and many are asking can the INDI Alliance stake claim to form the government. We explore this possibility and what it would mean for the country.

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Numbers game

After the final vote was tallied, the results are as follows: the NDA, comprising BJP, JD(U), TDP and others, has acquired 292, crossing the magic number of 272 — which is required to form the government.

Of the 292 seats that the NDA has won, the BJP has bagged 240 seats while the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) has won 12 and the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP has attained 16 seats. Between the two allies, they add 28 seats to the NDA tally.

On the other hand, the INDI Alliance made up of the Congress, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Samajwadi Party (SP) and others, secured a total of 234 seats.

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Individually, the Congress bagged 99 while the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP won 37 and TMC won 29.

Even if the JD(U) and TDP with their 28 seats switched sides, the INDI Alliance tally would go up to 262, requiring the Opposition to reach out to other parties to reach the majority mark of 272.

Meets galore

With the numbers stacked as they are, it is not surprising that both sides are going to hold a flurry of meetings in an attempt to secure the required numbers.

In fact, shortly after the results were declared, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray announced that the INDI Alliance should claim to form a government at the Centre. We should claim to form government. I will go to Delhi tomorrow evening,” said the former Maharashtra chief minister.

He also alleged that the only reason why the BJP had allies was because they were “fearful” of the party. He also accused the saffron party of “harassing” Chandrababu Naidu.

In a press conference, Uddhav added: “The common person of India has shown their power to the powerful, arrogant regime and also to the world how it can throw a dictatorial regime out of power by using one finger.

“The INDI Alliance should stake the claim to form a government at the centre. Leaders of the INDI Alliance will meet tomorrow to decide the future course of action. I will go to Delhi tomorrow evening to attend the meeting. There will be a discussion about who will be the face of the prime minister from the INDIA alliance,” he added.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a separate press conference said that the INDI Alliance would decide on Wednesday (5 June) whether it should sit in the Opposition or stake claim to form the government. He said a meeting of the alliance partners has been called to discuss the future course of action.

A Congress leader told NDTV that the Opposition bloc is already making its moves. “We will look at the possibility of forming government with like-minded parties and others like Nitish Kumar and the TDP.”

ABP News had further reported that the INDI Alliance had reached out to Bihar’s Nitish Kumar and offered him post of deputy prime minister while Naidu had been promised special status for Andhra Pradesh.

Now all eyes turn to New Delhi and we await what happens next. As of now conventionally, the President will invite the party or group that crosses the majority mark to form government.

With inputs from agencies