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Mixed bag for 'divided' Oppn in '24

The Morning Standard

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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.

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