New Delhi: The five states of South India which send 130 MPs to the Lok Sabha painted a positive picture for the BJP-led NDA, giving the ruling party at Centre major push in their total number of seats, according to the Republic-PMARQ exit poll results for Lok Sabha Election 2024. 

The BJP and its allies, which has been trying to make inroads in South India, is likely to see strong performance in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and make notable boost in Tamil Nadu and Telangana. 

Notably, INDI alliance which was confident of performing excellent in the southern states have faced major setback. The opposition bloc's 'BJP- South Mein Saaf’ slogan which was mostly part of their Lok Sabha electioneering has backfired, if atleast going by the exit poll results.

Overall, Republic-PMARQ exit poll results projected 359 seats for the NDA and 316 alone for BJP. On the other hand, it has predicted 154 seats of the INDI alliance and 66 alone for the Congress. The parties that don't associate with the NDA and INDI prospects are likely to get 30 seats, according to the exit poll results.  

NDA's South Ascent 

If the exit poll numbers hold on June 4, the result day, it would mean that South India is no longer a forbidden zone for the BJP, which has so far celebrated Karnataka as their only gateway to the India South. 

The BJP didn't manage to open account in Andhra Pradesh in the 2019 Lok Sabha election but it's expected to rise above the dominating YSRCP with 14+ seats in alliance with TDP and Jana Sena. The Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP which swept through the state with 22 seats in the last election could fall short with just 11 seats in its account this time, according to Republic-PMARQ exit poll results. 

The saffron party could also get major gains in Telangana where 17 seats went to polls. From four seats in 2019, the BJP-led NDA might get six seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The BRS, which ruled Telangana till the last assembly polls, will be disappointed if exit polls stand on June 4. 

The Republic-PMARQ exit poll results predicted just two seats for the BRS which once had almost half seats in their account. Meanwhile, the Congress party made state government in the state and it's certain that its hold in the state will only boost. 

The exit poll results show that Congress could get 8 seats in Telangana, rising above from three it had won in the last Lok Sabha election.   

BJP Breaking South Barrier 

The Karnataka final result could hold a surprise if the BJP-led NDA repeats its 2019 dominance when it bagged 27 out of 28 seats, given the boost to Congress strength in the state Assembly elections last year. The Republic-PMARQ exit polls predicted 23 seats for the NDA, while six for the ruling Congress. 

The exit polls indicated a big lead for the DMK-led INDI alliance in Tamil Nadu with 33-38 seats out of 39 which was anticipated. Notably, it gave 0-2 seats to the BJP which had not even opened its account in Tamil Nadu in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when DMK swept through with 38 seats.