The Perfect Holiday Gift Gift Now

Mixed bag for 'divided' Oppn in '24

The Morning Standard

|

December 31, 2024

WHEN the INDIA bloc made a stunning comeback in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the world's largest democratic exercise, political pundits compared it with the successful 1977 model of the Opposition parties coming together to dislodge Indira Gandhi.

- PREETHA NAIR

Mixed bag for 'divided' Oppn in '24

Though the Opposition alliance ended up as runners-up in the fiercely fought electoral battle, their major accomplishment was denying the BJP the magic figure of 272 seats, needed to form the government.

The NDA alliance led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi came back to a third term in power with 292 seats.

The INDIA bloc had more reasons to cheer about the electoral outcome as it has been widely predicted that the alliance is bound to crumble due to infighting and vested interests. Moreover, surveys and experts were also skeptical about the alliance's ability to trump the BJP's electoral invincibility and its narratives on economic success and Hindutva.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE The Morning Standard

The Morning Standard

Too Many Checks, No Balance

What just passed was the year of democratic exhaustion and electoral strife.

time to read

3 mins

January 04, 2026

The Morning Standard

The Morning Standard

Art of never giving up: From odd jobs to owning 17 buses and mini trucks

ROMEN Das seems to have the Midas touch. Whatever business he lays his hands on appears to prosper.

time to read

2 mins

January 04, 2026

The Morning Standard

The Morning Standard

India's Happiness Paradox

As ambitions soar and prosperity rises, inner peace declines, revealing a deeper crisis of purpose behind the nation's visible progress

time to read

3 mins

January 04, 2026

The Morning Standard

The Morning Standard

ARAVALLIS, A NEW TURN IN ECOLOGY BATTLE

THERE are some twists in the legal battle to save the Aravalli Hills.

time to read

3 mins

January 04, 2026

The Morning Standard

The Morning Standard

US SNATCHES MADURO

Venezuela President, wife being taken to America in dramatic coup; US will run it for now

time to read

1 mins

January 04, 2026

The Morning Standard

The Morning Standard

KKR DROP BANGLADESH PLAYER, FOCUS SHIFTS TO T20 WORLD CUP TIES

AMIDST the rising criticism over signing Bangladesh seamer Mustafizur Rahman, Kolkata Knight Riders released the player from their IPL 2026 squad following instructions from the cricket board.

time to read

1 min

January 04, 2026

The Morning Standard

CELEBRATING A SAGE FOR THE AGES

I write these words in the wake of the release of my newest book, The Sage Who Reimagined Hinduism, by the Vice-President of India at the Sivagiri Ashram established by the peerless Sree Narayana Guru more than a century ago.

time to read

4 mins

January 04, 2026

The Morning Standard

Snake bite claims 13 lives in 50 days in U'khand amid climate-change scare

CLIMATE change is increasingly being cited as the primary driver behind the alarming surge in wildlife attacks across Uttarakhand, with recent data suggesting the impact extends beyond bears and leopards to include venomous snakes becoming unusually active during winter months.

time to read

1 min

January 04, 2026

The Morning Standard

The Morning Standard

A Search Called Home

In his debut novel Our Friends in Good Houses, journalist Rahul Pandita unveils a stark portrayal of a man's search for home.

time to read

2 mins

January 04, 2026

The Morning Standard

Raj conducts raids in Aravalli areas, 7 FIRs filed

THE Rajasthan government has stepped up enforcement across the state to curb illegal mining and protect the fragile ecology of the Aravalli mountain range.

time to read

1 mins

January 04, 2026

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size