Following six weeks of nationwide voting, the vote tallying will occur today. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA aims for a third consecutive term, while the Congress-led INDIA bloc is poised to challenge the saffron party’s dominance in this Lok Sabha Election.
The India News- NewsX-D-Dynamics released its exit poll prediction for the Lok Sabha election 2024. As per the exit poll, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is slated to win as many as 315 seats of the 543 seats on its own, and 371 seats in alliance with its NDA partners.
Some Key Battles to Look Out for:
PM MODI VS 6 OTHERS IN VARANASI
In Varanasi, all eyes were on the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha polls as Prime Minister Narendra Modi contested for the third consecutive time. The Congress party pinned its hopes on Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai, a seasoned politician with RSS roots, to challenge PM Modi. Other contenders include Kolisetty Shiva Kumar (Yuga Thulasi Party), Ather Jamal Lari (Bahujan Samaj Party), Gagan Prakash Yadav (Apna Dal, Kameravadi), Dinesh Kumar Yadav (Independent), and Sanjay Kumar Tiwari (Independent).
RAHUL GANDHI FROM WAYANAD & RAEBARELI
Rahul Gandhi is contesting from two seats in this Lok Sabha election – Wayanad and Raebaeli. While he’s expected to retain the Wayanad seat in Kerala, he faces stiff competition from BJP state president K Surendran and CPI leader Annie Raja. In Raebareli, Rahul will contend against BJP’s Dinesh Pratap Singh in a bid to secure the Gandhi family’s bastion.
AMIT SHAH FROM GANDHINAGAR
Amit Shah is set to contest the Lok Sabha battle from Gujarat’s Gandhinagar, his home state. He will face Congress’ Sonal Patel, the former chairperson of the Gujarat Congress women’s wing, in the urban seat. Notably, Shah secured a massive victory margin of 5.5 votes against Congress’ Chatursinh Javanji Chavda in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
AKHILESH YADAV VS BJP’S SUBRAT PATHAK IN UP’S KANNAUJ
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav is contesting from the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat against BJP candidate and sitting MP Subrat Pathak. Kannauj has been a traditional Samajwadi Party stronghold due to the strategic efforts of Akhilesh’s father and former UP CM Mulayam Singh Yadav.
SHASHI THAROOR VS RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR IN THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
Thiruvananthapuram constituency will witness a three-way contest between sitting MP Shashi Tharoor (Congress), Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and CPI candidate Panniyan Raveendran. Despite being in alliance at the national level, Congress and CPI are contesting against each other in Kerala.
NITIN GADKARI VS VIKAS THAKRE IN NAGPUR
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari is contesting against Congress’ Vikas Thakre in Maharashtra’s Nagpur Lok Sabha seat. Gadkari secured victories in the previous two Lok Sabha elections with significant margins.
SMRITI IRANI VS KL SHARMA IN AMETHI
Amethi, once a stronghold of the Nehru-Gandhi family, is witnessing a tough battle between BJP leader Smriti Irani and Congress’ KL Sharma. Irani’s victory in 2019 marked a significant shift in the constituency’s political landscape, breaking the Gandhi family’s legacy.
HD KUMARASWAMY VS GOWDA IN KARNATAKA’S MANDYA
Former CM HD Kumaraswamy is contesting from the Mandya seat against Congress candidate Venkataramane Gowda. The battle is expected to lean towards Kumaraswamy, with the seat traditionally dominated by Congress and JD(S).
ANNAMALAI VS DMK’S GANAPATY RAJKUMAR
Coimbatore sees BJP’s K Annamalai challenging DMK’s P Ganapaty Rajkumar. The constituency has a diverse political landscape, with BJP aiming to make inroads.
BJP’S KANGANA RANAUT VS CONGRESS’ VIKRAMADITYA SINGH
Mandi’s Lok Sabha polls feature BJP’s Kangana Ranaut against Congress’ Vikramaditya Singh. Traditionally a Congress stronghold, Mandi has seen significant political shifts in recent times.
AIMIM CHIEF ASADUDDIN OWAISI VS BJP’S MADHAVI LATHA IN HYDERABAD
Hyderabad’s Lok Sabha seat is witnessing a contest between AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and BJP’s Madhavi Latha. Owaisi is expected to retain his stronghold, although Latha poses a close competition.
MAHUA VS RANI MA FROM BENGAL’S KRISHNANAGAR
Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra is seeking re-election from Krishnanagar, facing competition from BJP’s “Rani Ma”, Amrita Roy. The battle reflects an elite vs. royal dynamic, shaping the constituency’s political narrative.
UJJWAL NIKAM VS VARSHA GAIKWAD FROM MUMBAI NORTH-CENTRAL
Mumbai North-Central witnesses a close fight between Advocate Ujjwal Nikam and Congress’ Varsha Gaikwad. BJP’s surprise move of replacing Poonam Mahajan with Nikam adds intrigue to the electoral battle.
MANOJ TIWARI VS KANHAIYA KUMAR IN NORTH-EAST DELHI
BJP’s Manoj Tiwari will contest against Congress’ Kanhaiya Kumar in North-East Delhi. Both leaders hail from Bihar, competing for a seat with a significant population from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
ARVIND SAWANT VS JAMINI YADAV
Mumbai South sees a contest between Shiv Sena’s Arvind Sawant and Byculla MLA Yamini Jadhav. The battle reflects internal party dynamics within Shiv Sena.