The BJP's failure to secure a majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is attributed to significant losses in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. In these crucial states, the party's seat count dropped from 103 in 2019 to just 57. The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) capitalized on local issues and effective coalition strategies, raising their tally from 42 to 100. Key factors included SP-Congress's expanded caste coalition in UP, MVA's resilience in Maharashtra, and Mamata Banerjee's stronghold in Bengal. These setbacks hindered the BJP's bid to surpass 250 seats in the national elections.            

As Lok Sabha elections comes to an end with a fiercely contest, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to return for a third term, but his BJP-led NDA coalition fell short of its ambitious '400-paar' target. Despite exit polls predicting a sweeping victory, the NDA secured 292 seats, significantly lower than expected. The opposition INDIA bloc, showing a strong performance especially in Uttar Pradesh, won 233 seats. The Congress made significant gains, winning over 90 seats. BJP's vote share also decreased to around 46%, while the INDIA bloc garnered 41%. In key states, the INDIA bloc outperformed, notably securing 43 seats in Uttar Pradesh. This election marked a substantial shift in India's political landscape, showcasing a revitalized opposition.

In a significant political shift, the INDIA bloc, comprising the Samajwadi Party and Congress, secured a major victory in Uttar Pradesh, winning 43 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats. The BJP-led NDA, which previously dominated the state, managed to win only 36 seats. The Samajwadi Party took 37 seats, while Congress won six. Prime Minister Narendra Modi retained his Varanasi seat, but the overall result marked a stark contrast to the 2019 elections when the BJP alone secured 62 seats. The results reflect a strong comeback for the opposition in India's most politically crucial state.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that he should resign on moral grounds for failing to meet his claim of crossing 400 seats. "The prime minister has lost credibility. He should resign immediately because he had said that this time they would cross 400 seats," Banerjee said. She also highlighted the BJP's loss in Ayodhya, stating, "Even after causing so many atrocities, spending so much money, Modi has lost. They have even lost in Ayodhya."

In a closely contested Lok Sabha election, the Congress-led INDIA bloc is considering approaching potential new allies like Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and Chandrababu Naidu's TDP to explore options for government formation. With the NDA falling short of a clear majority, the INDIA camp sees an opportunity by bringing in the two regional parties that have previously allied with both sides. Senior Congress leaders have hinted at reaching out to "like-minded" parties, while ally Uddhav Thackeray openly stated their intent to talk to Kumar and Naidu. The move could potentially tilt the balance in the opposition's favor.

The hard-fought national polls delivered a victory for the BJP-led alliance which secured 292 seats in the 543-member parliament. However, the Congress-headed opposition bloc put up a strong fight, claiming 234 seats. While the ruling coalition's tally dipped from 2019, BJP alone won 240 seats. Congress made remarkable gains with 99 wins, a vast improvement from recent elections. The final results affirm PM Modi's third consecutive term but also establish the opposition as a formidable force.

In a stunning blow to the BJD's dominance, the BJP is set to form its first-ever government in Odisha, ending Naveen Patnaik's 24-year reign. The saffron surge, fueled by the "Odia Asmita" narrative, propelled the BJP to a projected win of 80 seats out of 147, while the BJD is expected to secure only 50 seats, its worst performance. The BJP is also poised to sweep 19 of the 21 Lok Sabha seats. Patnaik himself is trailing in Kantabanji, though leading in Hinjili. PM Modi hailed the "resounding victory for good governance and Odisha's unique culture."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a swipe at the opposition INDIA alliance, stating, "Opposition despite being united could not win as many seats as BJP got on its own." Addressing BJP workers after the party's victory, Modi hailed the NDA's third consecutive term, a first since 1962. He highlighted the BJP's performance in Odisha and the NDA's sweep in Andhra Pradesh. Modi also lauded the high voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir, calling it a response to those "who try to defame the nation." The results defied exit poll predictions of a landslide NDA win.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections saw several high-profile leaders facing shocking defeats. BJP's Smriti Irani and K. Annamalai, former J&K Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, and Congress' Vikramaditya Singh were among the big names who lost. Irani was defeated by Congress' Kishori Lal Sharma, while Annamalai trailed behind DMK's Ganapthy Rajkumar P. Omar Abdullah conceded defeat to an Independent candidate, and Mehbooba Mufti lost to NC's Mian Altaf Ahmad. Vikramaditya Singh lost to debutant Kangana Ranaut, contesting on a BJP ticket.

As the BJP fell short of a majority, two seasoned political veterans, Nitish Kumar and N. Chandrababu Naidu, have emerged as potential kingmakers. Kumar's JDU and Naidu's TDP have performed well, winning 12 and 16 seats respectively. With the INDIA alliance needing additional support to form the government, reports suggest they are reaching out to these leaders. Naidu, known for his coalition-building skills, and Kumar, infamous for his political flip-flops, hold the key to power. As the numbers stack up, both the BJP and INDIA are likely to court these veterans to secure their support in forming the next government.