The anticipation is finally over as the countdown for the results on all 543 seats of the Lok Sabha election has begun. The counting of votes will commence on Tuesday, June 4th, marking the culmination of the electoral process that witnessed 8,360 candidates from 51 parties vying for their fates over a span of 80 days across seven phases of polling.
With the announcement of Lok Sabha election results, the nation will soon ascertain who will ascend to the throne of governance. While the BJP-led NDA and the India alliance stand on opposing sides, exit polls once again hint at a return of the Modi government. The Election Commission will kickstart the vote counting at 8 a.m., commencing with the tallying of postal ballots followed by those cast through EVMs. Concurrently, the results of assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha will also be declared.
The BJP candidate and former governor of Telangana, Tamilisai Soundararajan, performed rituals at the Bhagwan Murugan Temple in Dakshin Chennai ahead of the Lok Sabha election results, dismissing the relevance of exit polls. Soundararajan remarked that exit polls are often manipulated and lack accuracy, contrasting BJP’s stance of not relying on such forecasts.
Reflecting on the historical backdrop, the inaugural general elections in India occurred in 1951-52, spanning over four months, where 489 Lok Sabha seats were contested. The process incurred an expenditure of nearly 10 lakh rupees.
Amidst the election fervor, Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress leader, penned an open letter urging bureaucrats to serve the nation without fear, bias, or malice.
In a similar vein, Kharge emphasized adherence to the Constitution and urged officials not to succumb to any unconstitutional pressures, advocating fearlessness during the electoral process.
Nakul Nath, the Congress candidate from Chhindwara Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh, expressed confidence in the electorate’s support and awaited their blessings. Meanwhile, he awaits the verdict of the exit polls with anticipation.
However, Kailash Vijayvargiya, a minister from Madhya Pradesh, criticized Digvijay Singh, a Congress leader, for prematurely attributing blame to EVMs even before the results were announced, insinuating his acceptance of defeat.
The atmosphere among BJP supporters nationwide is jubilant, anticipating Narendra Modi‘s return to power for the third consecutive term, although the conclusive verdict will only be known on June 4th. Notably, in a unique display, both Hindu and Muslim leaders offered prayers for Modi’s reelection, symbolizing unity amidst political diversity.
In hindsight, the Election Commission acknowledged the challenges posed by conducting elections amidst extreme temperatures and inferred lessons for future endeavors. The deployment of semi-military forces in several states, including West Bengal, aims to prevent post-election violence.
Jitu Patwari, the Congress state president in Madhya Pradesh, questioned the reliability of exit polls, echoing sentiments expressed by BJP leaders. He highlighted discrepancies in exit poll predictions, indicating potential biases.
The disproportionately low representation of women candidates, constituting a mere 9.6% of the total candidates, draws attention as the nation awaits the election results with bated breath.
After the release of the exit polls, the local stock market witnessed a widespread surge on Monday, with the BSE Sensex soaring by more than 2,500 points, reaching its highest level yet. The National Stock Exchange’s Nifty also closed at a new peak, with a jump of 733 points. This rapid escalation in the market comes in the wake of predictions favoring a significant victory for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance
