Omkar Dattatray
On the whole and by and large the Lok Sabha election of 2024 is turning out to be the direct fight between NDA Vs INDI alliance .This election fight between the mighty NDA and the faction ridden newly formed alliance called INDIA is becoming an interesting poll fight and it seems that at the end of the day NDA will be in a position to win the crucial general elections third time in succession .However both the alliances are leaving no stone unturned to defeat the other and win the elections .But this great Tamasha of the world’s largest democracy is becoming very interesting and the eyes of the national as well as global community are set on these elections .This is an election fight between the two alliances and it has to be seen that which alliance will win the elections. However both the NDA and INDI alliance are toiling a lot to defeat the other and come victorious in the elections. One thing is to be accepted that the NDA alliance is well united and is fighting the polls as a one unit but the INDI alliance seems to be disjointed and the alliance partners are fighting for the supremacy and this may turn nightmarish for INDI alliance and this infighting, groupism and lack of discipline is going to cost the INDA alliance very dearly in the elections. As the elections is completing phase to phase ,it becomes clear that the fight is becoming tough ,keen and interesting and after the political churning there will be gainers and losers and it is going to give power to the alliance which gets a majority vote .Across 13 states ,88 constituencies went to polls on April 26 in the second phase of the world’s largest election .The juggernaut of INDIA’s mammoth parliamentary elections rolled into the second phase on April 26 with eyes on the southern states of Kerala and Karnataka .India’s general elections for 543 seats in the lower house of parliament ,or Lok Sabha ,kicked off on April 19.The results of the world’s largest ever democratic exercise are set to be announced on June 4.With 969 million registered voters or more than the combined population of the United States ,the European Union and Russia -India has largest electorate in the world .Apart from numerous regional and national hopefuls ,the two main alliances are the National Democratic Alliance [NDA] led by Prime Minister Nsarendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP] .and a newly formed coalition of 28 parties called the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance [INDIA] ,led by the main opposition Indian National Congress ,welded by the aim of unseating the BJP.As many as 26 opposition parties have united to take on the BJP led NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections .The united opposition has named itself INDIA and is fighting the polls to end the 10 -year reign of the Narendra Modi government .On the other hand, NDA has 38 political parties to counter the opposition’s agenda .The BJP ,which enjoys a clear majority in the Lok Sabha at present ,won 303 seats in 2019 in the 543 member seats in parliament .The saffron party is aiming to get 50 percent of the total votes polled and is eying over 350 seats in the upcoming general elections. The INDIA alliance is important for all the constituent parties for their own survival. The parties know they cannot alone take on the mighty BJP and their coming together is the only way .If we take a look at 2019 Lok Sabha polls ,there are 190 seats where there was a direct contest between congress and BJP and regional parties or INDIA allies have limited or no influence. And in these 190 seats ,the second runner -up got more than the winning margin. These seats are majorly spread out in Rajasthan ,MP, Uttarakhand, HP ,Gujarat ,Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Haryana .Then there are seats where INDIA allies were in contest with each other and the number stands at 276.With these parties contesting together ,there will be no division of votes giving them an advantage .With congress at the fulcrum ,this alliance will stay. .Also ,people have seen UPA-1 and 11 giving them confidence there is also an alternative in the upcoming polls .In 71 seats ,the contest is between congress and regional parties and a fight will be seen in at least 36 of these seats .Parties like Telgue Desam Party ,BSP,YRR Congress ,Bharat Rashtra Samiti ,Janata Dal and few others have not joined either of camps .There was also a contest between regional parties on as many as 97 seats .The JDU has left the alliance and joined NDA .The impact of INDIA can be seen on 17 seats where it will be in a direct contest with BJP .Also ,the Modi government is facing double anti-incumbency .”In the last elections ,people did not see an alternative ,but this time there is one .We can see fight in many seats and the opposition is likely to raise its tally in Lower House .The fight is between the NDA and INDIA alliance and it is premature to say something certain about the poll outcome at this juncture and only time will tell the results of the polls .But psephologists are of the view that in the crucial general elections the balance of power may tilt in favor of NDA given the present poll atmosphere .At the end of the day the NDA will steal the show and will give Modi the win for the third time in succession. The Modi magic and Ram Lahar will definitely impact the elections and give success to the NDA .In brief it can be opined that NDA will outsmart the INDIA alliance and get a comfortable win in the general elections .All indications suggest the win of the NDA in the upcoming polls.But whatever it is the poll fight between the NDA and INDIA alliance is very interesting as both the alliances are toiling a lot to win the polls and it will be seen which way the wind will blow but it seems that ultimately the NDA will win the crucial general elections and the directionless INDIA alliance may be defeated.
(The author is a columnist, social and KP activist)