"If the 16th general election in 2014 catapulted the BJP as the primary pole of Indian politics, relegating the Congress to a distant second, 2019 establishes it as the overarching hegemon".
The BJP is the second political party in Indian history to come back to power, even stronger this time.
The BJP got an absolute majority bagging 297 of the 458 seats (as per Election Commission's counting till 9.25 am on 24th May) and was on course to touch the 303-seat mark in the 543-member Lok Sabha. The BJP has already surpassed its 2014 performance when it won 282 seats.
| Article and Schedule Quiz | Start Test! |
The Congress in all likelihood will fall short of the 54-mark needed for the leader of the opposition status in the Lok Sabha, winning in 45 seats and leading in 7.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who sought reelection from Varanasi struck gold, garnering over 63% of total votes polled. His rival Ajay Rai, of Congress, had polled 53,385 votes, about two lakh votes lesser than Mr. Modi. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who lost in his sitting constituency of Amethi in UP, made a record victory in his second seat of Wayanad in Kerala.
All the newly-elected BJP MPs may meet 25th May to elect PM Narendra Modi as their leader, following which he will meet the president to stake claim to form the new government. The oath-taking of the new government is likely to be held on May 29.
