New Delhi: A day after the 2024 Lok Sabha election results, leaders from both the NDA and INDI alliances are heading to Delhi for strategic discussions on the way forward. Amid the flurry of political maneuvering, an interesting scene unfolded: JDU leader Lalan Singh was flown by none other than MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy. Boarding a flight from Patna to Delhi, Lalan Singh found himself in the cockpit with Rudy as the pilot, adding an unexpected twist to the political drama.

“Victory is victory. Right now, I want this flight to land smoothly. The political take-off was good. The landing should be good too. The future will be bright as well”, BJP's winning candidate from Saran Lok Sabha constituency Rudy, who was flying the aircraft told reporters. 

Rudy, a trained pilot with a commercial pilot's license, is prominently featured in the Limca Book of Records as the only parliamentarian to fly a commercial aircraft. He achieved this distinction by piloting an Airbus-320 for Indigo Airlines.

NDA Key Meet at 7 LKM

For the unversed, senior leaders of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are expected to meet in the evening today to take stock of the Lok Sabha poll results and deliberate on the details of government formation. JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu, who is set to become the next Andhra Pradesh chief minister, will attend the meeting where top leaders of the BJP and its other allies are also expected to be present, sources said.

They are expected to congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is set for a record-equalling third term at the helm, and discuss with him the details of the new government, which is likely to be different in composition and character with a bigger share for the BJP's allies. While the NDA is comfortably above the majority mark of 272 in the 543-member Lok Sabha, the BJP has fallen short of the magic number for the first time since 2014 and is critically dependent on its allies for government formation.

TDP, JD(U), Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Chirag Paswan-led LJP (Ram Vilas) have won 16, 12, seven and five seats respectively and will play a crucial role in government formation.