• The 2024 Lok Sabha elections saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) win over 290 seats, falling short of a simple majority of 272 seats, leading to doubts about Modi’s influence over voters. [BBC, Hindustan Times, Pratidin Time, New York Times, Newsweek]
  • The BJP’s performance in Uttar Pradesh fell short of expectations, with the party facing defeat at the hands of the SP-Congress alliance, while it won 25 out of 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat. [Hindustan Times]
  • The opposition I.N.D.I.A. alliance, led by the Indian National Congress, posed a strong challenge to Modi’s BJP, which has been accused of authoritarian practices and manipulating the electoral process. [New York Times]
  • The BJP’s strategy of using the Hindu card backfired, uniting Muslim minorities against the party, and revealing cracks in Brand Modi’s appeal, as he did not secure a majority for the first time. [BBC]
  • The Congress party nearly doubled its 2019 seats tally, winning 99 seats, and its candidate Geniben Thakor won in Banaskantha, Gujarat, breaking a decade-long drought. [Hindustan Times]
  • Despite consistent wins, the recent election results hint that the shine of Brand Modi is fading, showing that even he is not immune to anti-incumbency sentiments. [BBC]
  • The inauguration of Ram Mandir, a significant socio-political focal point, showcased BJP’s Hindu revivalist message, leaving some minority groups feeling sidelined, but local factors and sentiments influenced the electoral outcome in some constituencies. [Newsweek]
  • India’s stock market lost hundreds of billions of dollars in value following weaker-than-expected election results for Modi’s BJP, and Indian markets are likely to open negatively due to a tighter election race. [Newsweek, Livemint, Pratidin Time]
  • Progress on economic reforms, especially in the labor market, may face difficulties following the election results, as Modi’s third term could face hurdles with a weakened mandate, but growth is forecasted at 6 to 7 percent over the next two years, positioning India to become the world’s third-largest economy. [Newsweek]

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