KATHMANDU: In the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Delhi’s political landscape is witnessing a familiar trend as early results indicate a significant lead for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s NDA coalition in all seven constituencies.
While Delhi may only elect seven Members of Parliament, the symbolic importance of winning the capital cannot be overstated, given its status as the seat of power and the location of the parliament.
The NDA’s dominance in Delhi comes as no surprise, considering their clean sweep of the city’s seats in the 2019 elections.
However, this time around, the contest was anticipated to be more closely fought, especially in light of recent developments.
The arrest and subsequent imprisonment of Delhi’s popular Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on corruption charges just weeks before the polling began added an extra layer of intrigue to the electoral battle.
Kejriwal, the face of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), accused the government of fabricating charges against him, attributing it to his party’s successive victories over the BJP in Delhi state elections.
Despite being temporarily released on bail by the Supreme Court to campaign, Kejriwal’s return to prison on June 2 signaled the intensity of the political struggle.
At his campaign rallies, he rallied his supporters, urging them to vote for the AAP to ensure his swift release.
However, with the early trends showing a strong lead for the BJP-led alliance, the outcome seems less promising for Kejriwal.
The NDA is currently ahead in nearly 300 seats, while opposition parties trail behind in approximately 200.
As Prime Minister Modi eyes an unprecedented third consecutive term for himself and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), early results also indicate a surprisingly robust performance by the Congress party and other opposition groups.
With the magic number of 272 seats needed to form the government, the final outcome of the election remains uncertain.
The outcome of the world’s largest election, conducted in seven phases over six weeks with nearly a billion registered voters, hangs in the balance.
Despite exit polls suggesting a clear victory for Modi and the BJP, more than two dozen opposition parties remain hopeful of defying expectations and shaping the political landscape of India in the coming term.
BBC
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