TDP, JDU Emerge As Kingmakers in Modi 3.0

New Delhi: After a hectic seven phase long elections, the 2024 Lok Sabha polls delivered an a mandate unexpected by many. While the BJP won 240 seats, the Congress was limited to double-digit. The Grand Old Party scored 99. With the BJP falling short of simple majority (272), Chandrababu Naidu led- Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal United (JDU) have emerged as potential kingmakers at the national level with both the parties nearly sweeping in their respective states.  

Observers suggest that the party which was headed for an absolute majority, may feel weakened if it has to rely on regional parties like TDP and JDU for government formation. 
 

Naidu's TDP Clean Sweeps Andhra

In Andhra Pradesh, the Telugu Desam Party won 16 seats, while the BJP and Jana Sena have gained  3 and 2 seats respectively. TDP had contested 17 seats and won 16 of them.

In state assembly elections, TDP won 135, Janasena- 21 and BJP 8 seats, said the Election Commission of India. 

Chandrababu Naidu has been a part of the NDA government between 2014 and 2019, however, he left the Modi government and joined hands with the Congress-led UPA alliance. After losing both 2019 Lok Sabha polls and state assembly elections, Chandrababu was back in NDA fold just days before the announcement of Lok Sabha polls 2024. Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan also decided to support Naidu and at present TDP-BJP-JanaSena alliance is sweeping the state in both assembly and general elections.  

JDU Emerges Single Largest Party in Bihar  

Janata Dal United has emerged as the single largest party this Lok Sabha elections with its candidates winning 12 out of 40 parliamentary seats in Bihar. The BJP won 12, while Chirag Paswan-led LJP Ramvilas won all the 5 seats it contested.  

Nitish Kumar, credited for stitching the INDI alliance together, dumped the Opposition to get back to the NDA. Just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Nitish Kumar walked out of the Mahagathbandhan alliance in Bihar in January this year and took oath as the CM with BJP's support. BJP national president JP Nadda had welcomed him in the NDA fold, calling JDU a natural ally of the BJP. JDU-BJP-LJP's alliance seems to working for NDA in Bihar.

PM on Nitish and Naidu 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after winning third consecutive mandate, addressed the party workers at the BJP headquarters in Delhi. PM exuded confidence in the BJP and the NDA government and said that the Lok Sabha elections results were a victory of the people, democracy and faith in the country's Constitution. "After 1962, for the first time a government has won the mandate for a third consecutive term," Modi said addressing a gathering at the BJP headquarters.

Praising his alliance partners, PM Modi said NDA has performed very well in Andhra Pradesh under the leadership of Chandrababu Naidu and in Bihar under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

INDI Tries to Woo Nitish, Naidu 

The Congress is expected to reach out to both Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar. Upo being asked if INDI will try to form the government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the decision will be taken in a meeting with the alliance partners. “We will hold a meeting with our alliance partners tomorrow. These questions will be raised and answered there. We won't make any statements without asking our alliance partners,” said Rahul Gandhi during a press conference on Tuesday. “ Till we don't talk to our alliance partners and the new partners who are going to ally with them, we will talk to them as well and see how we can make majority,” he added. 

TDP, Nitish Pledge Support to NDA 

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has unequivocally pledged allegiance to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), dismissing any speculation of a pivot towards the INDI bloc. "Our pre-poll pact with BJP and Janasena in Andhra Pradesh isn't just political arithmetic; it's a matter of credibility. We will remain part of the NDA. There is absolutely no question of supporting the INDI Bloc," TDP's senior leader Kanakamedala Ravindrakumar said. Regarding Nitish Kumar, sources have said that Nitish Kumar is likely to arrive in the national capital on Wednesday. He will be attending the NDA meet being held in Delhi.