<p>The BJP and its ally Apna Dal(S) have won 63&nbsp;of Uttar Pradesh's 80 Lok Sabha seats, demolishing the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-election-results-2019-up-numbers-show-mahagathbandhan-a-failed-experiment-221047">challenge posed by the SP-BSP alliance</a>, which has managed to get 15&nbsp;seats between them.</p>

<p>The counting of votes is still underway in the state, which sends the highest number of MPs in the Lower House, and the Election Commission has declared results of 77 seats as of 6:20 AM Friday.</p>

<p>Of these, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-election-results-2019-modi-wave-sweeps-india-again-nda-poised-to-win-lok-sabha-elections-221034">BJP</a> has won 60 seats and its NDA ally Apna Dal (S) two. The BJP is also leading on two seats.</p>

<p>The party's most remarkable victory came in Amethi where Union minister Smriti Irani unseated Congress president Rahul Gandhi from his party's bastion.</p>

<p>The NDA tally was just 11 short of the 73, the number of seats the two parties won in the Hindi heartland state in 2014. This gap is set to come down to nine.</p>

<p>The opposition SP-BSP alliance bagged 14 seats, with nine going to Mayawati's BSP.</p>

<p>The party is also leading in one seat.</p>

<p>The Congress just managed to open its account in the state as UPA chairperson and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi won the Rae Bareli seat.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: 'There is no place for dynasty rulers, corrupt leaders in this nation' says Yogi Adityanath</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>


The BJP and its ally Apna Dal(S) have won 63 of Uttar Pradesh's 80 Lok Sabha seats, demolishing the challenge posed by the SP-BSP alliance, which has managed to get 15 seats between them.

The BJP and its ally Apna Dal(S) have won 63 of Uttar Pradesh's 80 Lok Sabha seats, demolishing the challenge posed by the SP-BSP alliance, which has managed to get 15 seats between them. The counting of votes is still underway in the state, which sends the highest number of MPs in the Lower House, and the Election Commission has declared results of 77 seats as of 6:20 AM Friday. Of these, the BJP has won 60 seats and its NDA ally Apna Dal (S) two. The BJP is also leading on two seats. The party's most remarkable victory came in Amethi where Union minister Smriti Irani unseated Congress president Rahul Gandhi from his party's bastion. The NDA tally was just 11 short of the 73, the number of seats the two parties won in the Hindi heartland state in 2014. This gap is set to come down to nine. The opposition SP-BSP alliance bagged 14 seats, with nine going to Mayawati's BSP. The party is also leading in one seat. The Congress just managed to open its account in the state as UPA chairperson and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi won the Rae Bareli seat. Also read: 'There is no place for dynasty rulers, corrupt leaders in this nation' says Yogi Adityanath ×

In UP, BJP+ gets 63 and counting, SP-BSP struggles to touch 15

<p>All but one Left Front candidates now have the ignominy of losing their security deposit in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, a state which it had ruled continuously for 34 years till 2011.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Except CPI(M)'s Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya who got 21.04 per cent of the votes polled in Jadavpur, no other Left Front candidate has been able to achieve the required 16.6 per cent of the votes to retain their deposit money of Rs 25,000 each, according to Election Commission data.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In India, candidates for election to the Lok Sabha pay a security deposit of Rs 25,000. For Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates, the amounts are Rs 12,500 and Rs 5,000 respectively. Any candidate who fails to secure more than one-sixth (16.6 per cent) of the total valid votes cast would have to forfeit his or her deposit.</p>

<p>Candidates of the CPI(M)-led Left Front, which ruled the state for 34 years from 1977 to 2011, have been decimated to third and fourth spots in the seats it contested.</p>

<p>There were some candidates who managed to get close -- CPI(M) leaders Mohammed Salim with 14.25 per cent votes in Raiganj, Nepaldeb Bhattacharya with 13.91 per cent in Dum Dum, sitting Murshidabad MP Badarudozza Khan with 11.63 per cent votes, Nandini Mukherjee with 11.63 per cent votes in South Kolkata, but their efforts were not enough.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In most seats, the Left Front candidates have failed to reach double digits as far as vote percentage is concerned.</p>

<p>Registering its worst poll performance in over six decades, the Left Front was wiped off its bastions with no seats from the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Left Front bagged five seats in this election -- four in Tamil Nadu and one in Kerala, where it rules. In Tamil Nadu, the CPI(M) and the CPI bagged two seats each in alliance with the DMK.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is the first time since 1952 that the Left Front will not end up with double digits in the general election. Till now, while it had put up its most dismal show in 2014, winning only 12 seats -- 12 less than what it had won in 2009 -- its highest ever tally of 59 seats had come in 2004.&nbsp;</p>


All but one Left Front candidates now have the ignominy of losing their security deposit in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, a state which it had ruled continuously for 34 years till 2011.

All but one Left Front candidates now have the ignominy of losing their security deposit in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, a state which it had ruled continuously for 34 years till 2011. Except CPI(M)'s Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya who got 21.04 per cent of the votes polled in Jadavpur, no other Left Front candidate has been able to achieve the required 16.6 per cent of the votes to retain their deposit money of Rs 25,000 each, according to Election Commission data. In India, candidates for election to the Lok Sabha pay a security deposit of Rs 25,000. For Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates, the amounts are Rs 12,500 and Rs 5,000 respectively. Any candidate who fails to secure more than one-sixth (16.6 per cent) of the total valid votes cast would have to forfeit his or her deposit. Candidates of the CPI(M)-led Left Front, which ruled the state for 34 years from 1977 to 2011, have been decimated to third and fourth spots in the seats it contested. There were some candidates who managed to get close -- CPI(M) leaders Mohammed Salim with 14.25 per cent votes in Raiganj, Nepaldeb Bhattacharya with 13.91 per cent in Dum Dum, sitting Murshidabad MP Badarudozza Khan with 11.63 per cent votes, Nandini Mukherjee with 11.63 per cent votes in South Kolkata, but their efforts were not enough. In most seats, the Left Front candidates have failed to reach double digits as far as vote percentage is concerned. Registering its worst poll performance in over six decades, the Left Front was wiped off its bastions with no seats from the state. The Left Front bagged five seats in this election -- four in Tamil Nadu and one in Kerala, where it rules. In Tamil Nadu, the CPI(M) and the CPI bagged two seats each in alliance with the DMK. This is the first time since 1952 that the Left Front will not end up with double digits in the general election. Till now, while it had put up its most dismal show in 2014, winning only 12 seats -- 12 less than what it had won in 2009 -- its highest ever tally of 59 seats had come in 2004.

All but one Left Front candidates lose security deposit in West Bengal 

<p>Riding on communal polarisation, NRC, infighting within TMC and transfer of Left votes, the BJP in West Bengal breached the impregnable fortress of Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee by winning 18 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats and grabbing a vote share of 40.5 per cent.</p>

<p>Up from two seats and 17 per cent vote share it had in 2014, the BJP not only pulled through an unprecedented victory in the bordering state of Bengal, where it was once considered as a marginal force, but also took a lead in around 130 assembly segments of the state in terms of vote share.</p>

<p>The state is scheduled to go for Legislative assembly polls in two years time in 2021.</p>

<p>Bengal witnessed a saffron surge on Thursday as the BJP inflicted a deadly blow to ruling Trinamool Congress by winning 18 of the total 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state.</p>

<p>The ruling TMC won 22 seats down from 34 in 2014.</p>

<p>BJP's national general secretary and Bengal minder, Kailash Vijayvargiya, said it was vote against Banerjee's appeasement politics and misrule.<br />
"This is the penultimate step, the final step will be the formation of BJP government in Bengal," Vijayvargiya said.</p>

<p>According to the BJP sources, among the several factors that led to BJP's stunning growth in Bengal are polarisation of votes due to TMC's minority appeasement politics, it's promise to implement NRC in Bengal to drive out infiltrators, overwhelming shift of the Left Fronts vote share to the saffron party besides infighting within the ruling TMC.</p>

<p>The BJP built its political narrative mostly around Hindutva and nationalism, which resulted in massive polarisation in the state, where Muslims constitute 27 per cent of the population.</p>

<p>Since independence Bengal, where the electoral discourse has largely steered clear of communal politics, witnessed one of the most polarised elections with both TMC and the BJP accusing each other of resorting to minority and majority appeasement.</p>

<p>Riding on polarisation, both TMC and BJP managed to sideline Left Front and Congress.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: BJP party workers celebrate in West Bengal and Mumbai</strong></p>

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<p>Promises of NRC in Bengal to drive out infiltrators, allegations that TMC government stopped Durga Puja in Bengal, Ram Navami rallies, hundreds of communal riots in various parts of Bengal sharpened the communal divide with TMC lapping up the much of the Muslim vote share and BJP bagging a major chunk of the Hindu votes in the states.</p>

<p>The issues of NRC, citizenship bill and polarisation playing an important role in BJP's vote share can be gauged from the fact that the saffron camp made substantial gains in areas close to the India-Bangladesh border, which have a substantial minority vote.</p>

<p>The gamble of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill reaped huge dividends for BJP in seats like Bongoan and Ranaghat, which has huge Matua population- who originally hail from erstwhile East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, and began migrating to West Bengal at the beginning of the 1950s, mostly due to religious persecution.</p>

<p>It also worked wonder for BJP in tribal-dominated areas of Junglemahal, where TMC faced a complete rout.</p>

<p>Another most important factor that played an important role in BJP's victory in Bengal is the massive shift of the Left Fronts votes to it.</p>

<p>Compared to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the Lefts vote share of 29 per cent dwindled to about 7 per cent this time whereas BJP, which had around 17 per cent votes in 2014, bagged around 40.5 per cent votes this time.</p>

<p>According to senior Left leaders, a huge section of Left voters, including party cadres, chose BJP to defeat Mamata Banerjee in the state.</p>

<p>BJP's spectacular performance may have raised several eyebrows given its poor organisational strength in the state, but according to senior BJP leader, and one of main architects of saffron surge, Mukul Roy, this victory was much anticipated as there is huge undercurrent against TMC both inside and outside the party.</p>

<p>"In most of the areas a large section of disgruntled TMC workers and leaders have voted in favour of BJP. Several TMC leaders have actually worked in favour of us. Now it's time for us to bring those TMC workers and leaders into BJP and work towards the final battle for assembly polls," he said.The way lakhs of people including TMC workers were denied to cast their votes during last rural polls, backfired for TMC, Roy said.</p>

<p>The saffron camp which is now eyeing the next assembly polls in the state want to consolidate on the factors that led to its stupendous triumph and work towards new avenues to grab a much larger pie of vote share.&nbsp;</p>


Riding on communal polarisation, NRC, infighting within TMC and transfer of Left votes, the BJP in West Bengal breached the impregnable fortress of Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee by winning 18 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats and grabbing a vote share of 40.

Riding on communal polarisation, NRC, infighting within TMC and transfer of Left votes, the BJP in West Bengal breached the impregnable fortress of Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee by winning 18 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats and grabbing a vote share of 40.5 per cent. Up from two seats and 17 per cent vote share it had in 2014, the BJP not only pulled through an unprecedented victory in the bordering state of Bengal, where it was once considered as a marginal force, but also took a lead in around 130 assembly segments of the state in terms of vote share. The state is scheduled to go for Legislative assembly polls in two years time in 2021. Bengal witnessed a saffron surge on Thursday as the BJP inflicted a deadly blow to ruling Trinamool Congress by winning 18 of the total 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The ruling TMC won 22 seats down from 34 in 2014. BJP's national general secretary and Bengal minder, Kailash Vijayvargiya, said it was vote against Banerjee's appeasement politics and misrule. "This is the penultimate step, the final step will be the formation of BJP government in Bengal," Vijayvargiya said. According to the BJP sources, among the several factors that led to BJP's stunning growth in Bengal are polarisation of votes due to TMC's minority appeasement politics, it's promise to implement NRC in Bengal to drive out infiltrators, overwhelming shift of the Left Fronts vote share to the saffron party besides infighting within the ruling TMC. The BJP built its political narrative mostly around Hindutva and nationalism, which resulted in massive polarisation in the state, where Muslims constitute 27 per cent of the population. Since independence Bengal, where the electoral discourse has largely steered clear of communal politics, witnessed one of the most polarised elections with both TMC and the BJP accusing each other of resorting to minority and majority appeasement. Riding on polarisation, both TMC and BJP managed to sideline Left Front and Congress. Watch: BJP party workers celebrate in West Bengal and Mumbai × Promises of NRC in Bengal to drive out infiltrators, allegations that TMC government stopped Durga Puja in Bengal, Ram Navami rallies, hundreds of communal riots in various parts of Bengal sharpened the communal divide with TMC lapping up the much of the Muslim vote share and BJP bagging a major chunk of the Hindu votes in the states. The issues of NRC, citizenship bill and polarisation playing an important role in BJP's vote share can be gauged from the fact that the saffron camp made substantial gains in areas close to the India-Bangladesh border, which have a substantial minority vote. The gamble of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill reaped huge dividends for BJP in seats like Bongoan and Ranaghat, which has huge Matua population- who originally hail from erstwhile East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, and began migrating to West Bengal at the beginning of the 1950s, mostly due to religious persecution. It also worked wonder for BJP in tribal-dominated areas of Junglemahal, where TMC faced a complete rout. Another most important factor that played an important role in BJP's victory in Bengal is the massive shift of the Left Fronts votes to it. Compared to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the Lefts vote share of 29 per cent dwindled to about 7 per cent this time whereas BJP, which had around 17 per cent votes in 2014, bagged around 40.5 per cent votes this time. According to senior Left leaders, a huge section of Left voters, including party cadres, chose BJP to defeat Mamata Banerjee in the state. BJP's spectacular performance may have raised several eyebrows given its poor organisational strength in the state, but according to senior BJP leader, and one of main architects of saffron surge, Mukul Roy, this victory was much anticipated as there is huge undercurrent against TMC both inside and outside the party. "In most of the areas a large section of disgruntled TMC workers and leaders have voted in favour of BJP. Several TMC leaders have actually worked in favour of us. Now it's time for us to bring those TMC workers and leaders into BJP and work towards the final battle for assembly polls," he said.The way lakhs of people including TMC workers were denied to cast their votes during last rural polls, backfired for TMC, Roy said. The saffron camp which is now eyeing the next assembly polls in the state want to consolidate on the factors that led to its stupendous triumph and work towards new avenues to grab a much larger pie of vote share.

Polarisation, NRC, transfer of Left votes help BJP breach Mamata Banerjee's fortress

<p>The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-elections-2019-rash-of-resignations-in-congress-after-election-result-disaster-221242">Congress</a> has drawn a blank in 18 states and Union Territories -- an indicator of its decimation in the Lok Sabha polls.</p>

<p>This is the Congress' second straight rout in Lok Sabha elections after it was decimated in the 2014 polls when the party ended up with a tally of 44 seats.</p>

<p>The Congress has been completely routed in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Delhi, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttarakhand.</p>

<p>Training his guns on the Congress, BJP chief Amit Shah on Thursday said the grand old party had drawn a "big zero" in 17 states and Union Territories, while the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/after-nehru-and-indira-modi-becomes-third-prime-minister-to-return-to-power-with-huge-mandate-221300">saffron party</a> got more than 50 per cent votes in 17 states.</p>

<p>Murmurs have already started within the party over taking responsibility for its poor performance across the country, with some of its leaders already sending in their resignation.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: Did Congress misread the polls?</strong></p>

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<p>Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar and Odisha Congress president Niranjan Patnaik announced their resignation in the wake of the party's electoral debacle in their respective states.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to sources, the party has convened a meeting of the Congress Working Committee, its highest decision-making body, at 11 am on Saturday.<br />
Rahul Gandhi is likely to offer his resignation at the meet, party sources said.</p>

<p>The top Congress leadership will deliberate on the reasons for the loss and assess them. It bagged only 52 seats in this election.&nbsp;</p>


The Congress has drawn a blank in 18 states and Union Territories -- an indicator of its decimation in the Lok Sabha polls. This is the Congress' second straight rout in Lok Sabha elections after it was decimated in the 2014 polls when the party ended up with a tally of 44 seats.

The Congress has drawn a blank in 18 states and Union Territories -- an indicator of its decimation in the Lok Sabha polls. This is the Congress' second straight rout in Lok Sabha elections after it was decimated in the 2014 polls when the party ended up with a tally of 44 seats. The Congress has been completely routed in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Delhi, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttarakhand. Training his guns on the Congress, BJP chief Amit Shah on Thursday said the grand old party had drawn a "big zero" in 17 states and Union Territories, while the saffron party got more than 50 per cent votes in 17 states. Murmurs have already started within the party over taking responsibility for its poor performance across the country, with some of its leaders already sending in their resignation. Watch: Did Congress misread the polls? × Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar and Odisha Congress president Niranjan Patnaik announced their resignation in the wake of the party's electoral debacle in their respective states. According to sources, the party has convened a meeting of the Congress Working Committee, its highest decision-making body, at 11 am on Saturday. Rahul Gandhi is likely to offer his resignation at the meet, party sources said. The top Congress leadership will deliberate on the reasons for the loss and assess them. It bagged only 52 seats in this election.

Congress draws a blank in 18 states and Union Territories

<p>Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday congratulated PM Narendra Modi on his landslide election victory.</p>

<p>In a statement, Hasina said that the resounding victory of BJP-led NDA in the polls is a reflection of the trust and confidence reposed on PM Modi by the people of the world's largest democracy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bangladesh attaches highest importance to its multi-faceted relations with India which is driven by genuine goodwill, mutual trust and respect, the statement said and called India's critical role in support of Bangladesh's war of Independence in 1971 as ''watershed moment'' in the relations between the two countries.</p>

<p>''I strongly believe that with the renewed mandate given to both of us by our respective peoples, Bangladesh-India ties, which have already been termed as a role model of good neighbourliness will be consolidated and our relations will scale newer heights,'' the statement added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hasina also extended an invitation to Modi to visit her country.</p>


Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday congratulated PM Narendra Modi on his landslide election victory. In a statement, Hasina said that the resounding victory of BJP-led NDA in the polls is a reflection of the trust and confidence reposed on PM Modi by the people of the world's largest democracy.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday congratulated PM Narendra Modi on his landslide election victory. In a statement, Hasina said that the resounding victory of BJP-led NDA in the polls is a reflection of the trust and confidence reposed on PM Modi by the people of the world's largest democracy. Bangladesh attaches highest importance to its multi-faceted relations with India which is driven by genuine goodwill, mutual trust and respect, the statement said and called India's critical role in support of Bangladesh's war of Independence in 1971 as ''watershed moment'' in the relations between the two countries. ''I strongly believe that with the renewed mandate given to both of us by our respective peoples, Bangladesh-India ties, which have already been termed as a role model of good neighbourliness will be consolidated and our relations will scale newer heights,'' the statement added. Hasina also extended an invitation to Modi to visit her country.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina congratulates PM Modi on election victory 

<p>Beating the anti-incumbency of his first five years in power, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-election-result-2019-foreign-media-reacts-as-vote-count-shows-an-outright-majority-for-bjp-220859">Prime Minister Modi </a>on Thursday secured an even greater mandate for the second straight term.</p>

<p>Marking another historic victory, PM Modi led BJP crossed over 300 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The party had won 282 seats in the 2014 general election.</p>

<p>The BJP, which registered a historic win in 2014 by emerging as the first party in three decades to secure a majority on its own, again scripted its name in history after the results threw a stronger number for its existing&nbsp;government.</p>

<p>After this win, PM Modi has become the first non-<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-elections-2019-rash-of-resignations-in-congress-after-election-result-disaster-221242">Congress</a> full majority prime minister to get re-elected with a stronger majority.</p>

<p>The Congress in the 1971 general election had secured a huge victory for the ruling government. Winning 362 out of 520 seats, the party under Indira Gandhi came back to power with a huge mandate.</p>

<p>Jawaharlal Nehru ruled for nearly two decades in the country. Congress under his leadership won three consecutive general elections.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: PM Modi may take oath of office on May 30</strong></p>

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<p>In the first general election held in 1951-52, Nehru won a massive mandate of 364 out of 489 seats. In the second general elections held in 1957, the Congress won 371 seats out of the 494. Securing another landslide victory in his third and final election campaign, the Indian National Congress in 1962 won 361 out of the 494 seats.</p>

<p>The BJP under Atal Bihari Vajpayee had registered another historic victory in 1999 general election when it became the first ever non-Congress government to complete its full tenure in power.&nbsp;</p>


Beating the anti-incumbency of his first five years in power, Prime Minister Modi on Thursday secured an even greater mandate for the second straight term. Marking another historic victory, PM Modi led BJP crossed over 300 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

Beating the anti-incumbency of his first five years in power, Prime Minister Modi on Thursday secured an even greater mandate for the second straight term. Marking another historic victory, PM Modi led BJP crossed over 300 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The party had won 282 seats in the 2014 general election. The BJP, which registered a historic win in 2014 by emerging as the first party in three decades to secure a majority on its own, again scripted its name in history after the results threw a stronger number for its existing government. After this win, PM Modi has become the first non-Congress full majority prime minister to get re-elected with a stronger majority. The Congress in the 1971 general election had secured a huge victory for the ruling government. Winning 362 out of 520 seats, the party under Indira Gandhi came back to power with a huge mandate. Jawaharlal Nehru ruled for nearly two decades in the country. Congress under his leadership won three consecutive general elections. Watch: PM Modi may take oath of office on May 30 × In the first general election held in 1951-52, Nehru won a massive mandate of 364 out of 489 seats. In the second general elections held in 1957, the Congress won 371 seats out of the 494. Securing another landslide victory in his third and final election campaign, the Indian National Congress in 1962 won 361 out of the 494 seats. The BJP under Atal Bihari Vajpayee had registered another historic victory in 1999 general election when it became the first ever non-Congress government to complete its full tenure in power.

Modi becomes first non-Congress prime minister to return to power after huge mandate

<p>The BJP candidates not only won all 10 seats in Haryana, but its nominees also left rivals behind by huge margins - over six lakh in two constituencies and more than three lakh in six.</p>

<p>Rohtak, however, bucked the trend where Arvind Sharma of the BJP defeated three-time MP and Congress candidate Deepender Singh Hooda by just 7,503 votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Leading the club of BJP candidates in Haryana is its state general secretary and Karnal nominee Sanjay Bhatia, who surprised many with a record margin of 6,56,412 votes over his nearest rival Kuldeep Sharma of the Congress.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bhatia, popularly called 'Bunty Bhai', is a confidant of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The BJP had replaced sitting MP Ashwani Kumar Chopra from Karnal with Bhatia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bhatia was followed by Union minister and sitting Faridabad MP Krishan Pal Gurjar in terms of the victory margin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He defeated his Congress rival Avtar Singh Bhadana by a margin of 6,38,239 votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the Bhiwani-Mahendergarh constituency too, BJP's sitting MP Dharambir inflicted a crushing defeat on Congress' Shruti Choudhary, who is the granddaughter of former chief minister Bansi Lal.</p>

<p>The former MP lost to Dharambir by a huge margin of 4,44,463 votes. Shruti was elected to the Lok Sabha from the seat in 2009 but was defeated by Dharambir in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.</p>

<p>Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh too retained his Gurugram seat. He defeated Congress' Ajay Singh Yadav by 3,86,256 votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Haryana minister Nayab Singh Saini, who was fielded from Kurukshetra after sitting MP RK Saini rebelled, defeated Congress' Nirmal Singh by a margin of 3,84,591 votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sitting Ambala MP Rattan Lal Kataria defeated former Union minister and Congress' Kumari Selja by a margin of 3,42,345 votes. Selja is a two-time MP from the constituency. She had bagged the seat in the 2004 and 2009 elections.</p>

<p>Bureaucrat-turned-politician Brijendra Singh won from Hisar, defeating sitting MP and Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) candidate Dushyant Chautala by a margin of 3,14,068 votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dushyant, who is the grandson of former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, had floated his own political outfit after splitting from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch</strong>:&nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;BJP Crosses 300 Mark On Its Own</strong></p>

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<p>Congress candidate Bhavya Bishnoi, the gradson of former chief minister Bhajan Lal, finished third.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Brijendra Singh is the son of Union Minister Birender Singh. He had joined the BJP recently.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The state Congress chief, Ashok Tanwar, too faced a crushing defeat at the hands of BJP's Sunita Duggal. He lost the contest by a margin of 3,09,918 votes.</p>

<p>In Sonipat too, where the Congress had fielded former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the saffron outfit registered an impressive victory.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sitting MP Ramesh Chander Kaushik defeated the former chief minister by a margin of 1,64,864 votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The BJP won all 10 seats in the state, improving its last tally of seven seats.</p>


The BJP candidates not only won all 10 seats in Haryana, but its nominees also left rivals behind by huge margins - over six lakh in two constituencies and more than three lakh in six.

The BJP candidates not only won all 10 seats in Haryana, but its nominees also left rivals behind by huge margins - over six lakh in two constituencies and more than three lakh in six. Rohtak, however, bucked the trend where Arvind Sharma of the BJP defeated three-time MP and Congress candidate Deepender Singh Hooda by just 7,503 votes. Leading the club of BJP candidates in Haryana is its state general secretary and Karnal nominee Sanjay Bhatia, who surprised many with a record margin of 6,56,412 votes over his nearest rival Kuldeep Sharma of the Congress. Bhatia, popularly called 'Bunty Bhai', is a confidant of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. The BJP had replaced sitting MP Ashwani Kumar Chopra from Karnal with Bhatia. Bhatia was followed by Union minister and sitting Faridabad MP Krishan Pal Gurjar in terms of the victory margin. He defeated his Congress rival Avtar Singh Bhadana by a margin of 6,38,239 votes. In the Bhiwani-Mahendergarh constituency too, BJP's sitting MP Dharambir inflicted a crushing defeat on Congress' Shruti Choudhary, who is the granddaughter of former chief minister Bansi Lal. The former MP lost to Dharambir by a huge margin of 4,44,463 votes. Shruti was elected to the Lok Sabha from the seat in 2009 but was defeated by Dharambir in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh too retained his Gurugram seat. He defeated Congress' Ajay Singh Yadav by 3,86,256 votes. Haryana minister Nayab Singh Saini, who was fielded from Kurukshetra after sitting MP RK Saini rebelled, defeated Congress' Nirmal Singh by a margin of 3,84,591 votes. Sitting Ambala MP Rattan Lal Kataria defeated former Union minister and Congress' Kumari Selja by a margin of 3,42,345 votes. Selja is a two-time MP from the constituency. She had bagged the seat in the 2004 and 2009 elections. Bureaucrat-turned-politician Brijendra Singh won from Hisar, defeating sitting MP and Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) candidate Dushyant Chautala by a margin of 3,14,068 votes. Dushyant, who is the grandson of former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, had floated his own political outfit after splitting from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). Watch: BJP Crosses 300 Mark On Its Own × Congress candidate Bhavya Bishnoi, the gradson of former chief minister Bhajan Lal, finished third. Brijendra Singh is the son of Union Minister Birender Singh. He had joined the BJP recently. The state Congress chief, Ashok Tanwar, too faced a crushing defeat at the hands of BJP's Sunita Duggal. He lost the contest by a margin of 3,09,918 votes. In Sonipat too, where the Congress had fielded former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the saffron outfit registered an impressive victory. Sitting MP Ramesh Chander Kaushik defeated the former chief minister by a margin of 1,64,864 votes. The BJP won all 10 seats in the state, improving its last tally of seven seats.

Not just clean sweep, BJP candidates in Haryana also notched up big margin wins

<p>The neighbourhood will be a priority and the focus will be on India's ties with the United States and China in the backdrop of Beijing-Washington standoff over trade issue, former envoys said after the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-polls-2019-narendra-modi-likely-to-take-oath-as-prime-minister-on-may-30-221221">historic victory of Narendra Modi</a> led-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in country's 17 Lok Sabha elections. Other than this, ties with Iran on the energy front and Russia which is a long-standing ally of India will also be in focus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Our principal diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal spoke to 11 former Indian envoys on focus areas for the new government and the challenges ahead.</p>

<p>"The new government will have its hands full. And one of the many priorities would be the immediate neighbourhood- Sri Lanka Afghanistan and Pakistan should be higher on the list- need to work with Sri Lanka, work on Pakistan and with and for Afghanistan &nbsp;as it stands on a critical crossroad.US Taliban talks seem to have hit the wall of Taliban's intransigence andIR inflexibility. India has to be mindful of the danger of Afghanistan being pushed back to dark ages and thus needs a proactive role with all stakeholders to ensure gains of last 18 years are not sacrificed," said Amar Sinha, former Ambassador of India to Afghanistan and Tajikistan.</p>

<p>Ashok Sajjanhar, former Ambassador of India to Kazakhstan, Sweden and Latvia said, "Relations with the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/imf-warns-us-china-trade-war-will-jeopardize-2019-global-growth-221117"> US and China</a> will be the most challenging. India will have to deftly and skillfully deal with China's ascendancy and assertiveness through both cooperation and competition to safeguard and promote its strategic and economic interests. With Washington, India will need to ensure that America's growing capriciousness and unpredictability on trade matters does not adversely impact on the rapidly advancing bilateral strategic partnership. Energy security and prices, Pakistan, Afghanistan and West Asia are other challenges looming on the horizon which will need to be attended to urgently."</p>

<p>Kanwal Sibal, former Foreign Secretary said, "Standing up to the US &nbsp;on issues where it’s policies hurt our interests while maintaining the forward momentum of our ties. Keeping China engaged while boosting the Indo-Pacific concept. Preserving close ties with Russia as we become closer to the US and participate in hedging policies towards China."</p>

<p>Sharat Sabharwal, former High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ambassador to Uzbekistan, said, "Managing the relationship with a fast-rising and increasingly assertive China will remain the major foreign policy challenge of the new government. But an immediate crisis that the government may have to deal with is the mounting tension between the US and Iran, with the potential of a military conflict and its impact on India's energy supplies from West Asia and the large Indian diaspora there."</p>

<p>Anil Trigunayat, former Ambassador to Jordan Libya and Malta, said, "The biggest challenge in my view will be in managing the US especially with regard to our engagement with Russia and Iran as blatant unilateralism has the potential to undermine our strategic autonomy. &nbsp;If the US-Iran confrontation crosses the threshold it will have the worst repercussions for our energy security and diaspora welfare in the Gulf region."</p>

<p>Vijay K Nambiar, India’s former Permanent Representative to United Nations and former envoy to Pak, China, Afghanistan, said, "We are increasingly presenting an image to the outside world of an angry "underdog" power wanting to disrupt the status quo. Our biggest challenge, in the coming period, therefore, will be to preserve our traditional soft power image of an open, inclusive and introspective society that, while confident and unselfconscious about its own particularities, is willing to adopt a humane and harmonious attitude towards the outside world and to learn from others."</p>

<p>Deepa Wadhwa, a former envoy to Qatar, Japan, Sweden, Latvia and the Marshall Islands, said, "Sidhant, I believe the first issue the new government will have to confront, will be the fallout of the US-Iran standoff and its effect on our interests in the Middle East. The other priority will be our relationship with the US and in particular, deteriorating trade ties."</p>

<p>"There are perennials of our relations with China and the new government will soon have an opportunity to convey our sensitivities and concerns while batting for improved relations at the second informal summit to be held between the leaders of the two countries in the latter half of the year," Wadhwa added.</p>

<p>Anil Wadhwa, former Indian envoy to Italy, Poland, Oman and Thailand said, "The biggest challenge facing the new government will be the management of its complex web of relationships with the United States, Russia and China, and adapting and keeping pace with the new technological revolution which is changing the way countries operate and move forward in their domestic and external policies."</p>

<p>Bhaswati Mukherjee, a former Indian envoy to the Netherlands, said, "Managing the contradictions in the US-China relationship and its impact on India if a full-fledged trade war breaks out. Balancing out the relationship with Russia in the context of our strategic partnership with the US. Preparing for a meltdown in Afghanistan with the withdrawal of US troops."</p>

<p>Rajiv Dogra, former Indian envoy to Italy and consul general to Karachi "The biggest foreign policy challenge of the new government will be it, itself. If it flips -flops and changes direction whimsically it hands over the policy advantage to others. All said and done the coming months will test the new government repeatedly on the foreign policy front."</p>

<p>Neelam Deo, former Indian Ambassador to Denmark and Ivory Coast said, "With Prime Minister Modi’s return to the office, India will have continuity in foreign policy direction. We can expect an enhancement in the initiatives started in PM Modi’s first term. For example. a strong outreach to members of the Quad – Japan, USA and Australia in defence, especially on maritime matters. There will be an increased focus on building infrastructure, for example in partnership with Japan in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as well as Africa under the Asia Africa Growth Corridor. In its second term, the Modi government will move rapidly to put more content into its relationship with the West, especially the US, while the Gulf countries will be the focus of energy diplomacy."</p>


The neighbourhood will be a priority and the focus will be on India's ties with the United States and China in the backdrop of Beijing-Washington standoff over trade issue, former envoys said after the historic victory of Narendra Modi led-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in country's 17 Lok Sabha elections.

The neighbourhood will be a priority and the focus will be on India's ties with the United States and China in the backdrop of Beijing-Washington standoff over trade issue, former envoys said after the historic victory of Narendra Modi led-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in country's 17 Lok Sabha elections. Other than this, ties with Iran on the energy front and Russia which is a long-standing ally of India will also be in focus. Our principal diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal spoke to 11 former Indian envoys on focus areas for the new government and the challenges ahead. "The new government will have its hands full. And one of the many priorities would be the immediate neighbourhood- Sri Lanka Afghanistan and Pakistan should be higher on the list- need to work with Sri Lanka, work on Pakistan and with and for Afghanistan as it stands on a critical crossroad.US Taliban talks seem to have hit the wall of Taliban's intransigence andIR inflexibility. India has to be mindful of the danger of Afghanistan being pushed back to dark ages and thus needs a proactive role with all stakeholders to ensure gains of last 18 years are not sacrificed," said Amar Sinha, former Ambassador of India to Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Ashok Sajjanhar, former Ambassador of India to Kazakhstan, Sweden and Latvia said, "Relations with the US and China will be the most challenging. India will have to deftly and skillfully deal with China's ascendancy and assertiveness through both cooperation and competition to safeguard and promote its strategic and economic interests. With Washington, India will need to ensure that America's growing capriciousness and unpredictability on trade matters does not adversely impact on the rapidly advancing bilateral strategic partnership. Energy security and prices, Pakistan, Afghanistan and West Asia are other challenges looming on the horizon which will need to be attended to urgently." Kanwal Sibal, former Foreign Secretary said, "Standing up to the US on issues where it’s policies hurt our interests while maintaining the forward momentum of our ties. Keeping China engaged while boosting the Indo-Pacific concept. Preserving close ties with Russia as we become closer to the US and participate in hedging policies towards China." Sharat Sabharwal, former High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ambassador to Uzbekistan, said, "Managing the relationship with a fast-rising and increasingly assertive China will remain the major foreign policy challenge of the new government. But an immediate crisis that the government may have to deal with is the mounting tension between the US and Iran, with the potential of a military conflict and its impact on India's energy supplies from West Asia and the large Indian diaspora there." Anil Trigunayat, former Ambassador to Jordan Libya and Malta, said, "The biggest challenge in my view will be in managing the US especially with regard to our engagement with Russia and Iran as blatant unilateralism has the potential to undermine our strategic autonomy. If the US-Iran confrontation crosses the threshold it will have the worst repercussions for our energy security and diaspora welfare in the Gulf region." Vijay K Nambiar, India’s former Permanent Representative to United Nations and former envoy to Pak, China, Afghanistan, said, "We are increasingly presenting an image to the outside world of an angry "underdog" power wanting to disrupt the status quo. Our biggest challenge, in the coming period, therefore, will be to preserve our traditional soft power image of an open, inclusive and introspective society that, while confident and unselfconscious about its own particularities, is willing to adopt a humane and harmonious attitude towards the outside world and to learn from others." Deepa Wadhwa, a former envoy to Qatar, Japan, Sweden, Latvia and the Marshall Islands, said, "Sidhant, I believe the first issue the new government will have to confront, will be the fallout of the US-Iran standoff and its effect on our interests in the Middle East. The other priority will be our relationship with the US and in particular, deteriorating trade ties." "There are perennials of our relations with China and the new government will soon have an opportunity to convey our sensitivities and concerns while batting for improved relations at the second informal summit to be held between the leaders of the two countries in the latter half of the year," Wadhwa added. Anil Wadhwa, former Indian envoy to Italy, Poland, Oman and Thailand said, "The biggest challenge facing the new government will be the management of its complex web of relationships with the United States, Russia and China, and adapting and keeping pace with the new technological revolution which is changing the way countries operate and move forward in their domestic and external policies." Bhaswati Mukherjee, a former Indian envoy to the Netherlands, said, "Managing the contradictions in the US-China relationship and its impact on India if a full-fledged trade war breaks out. Balancing out the relationship with Russia in the context of our strategic partnership with the US. Preparing for a meltdown in Afghanistan with the withdrawal of US troops." Rajiv Dogra, former Indian envoy to Italy and consul general to Karachi "The biggest foreign policy challenge of the new government will be it, itself. If it flips -flops and changes direction whimsically it hands over the policy advantage to others. All said and done the coming months will test the new government repeatedly on the foreign policy front." Neelam Deo, former Indian Ambassador to Denmark and Ivory Coast said, "With Prime Minister Modi’s return to the office, India will have continuity in foreign policy direction. We can expect an enhancement in the initiatives started in PM Modi’s first term. For example. a strong outreach to members of the Quad – Japan, USA and Australia in defence, especially on maritime matters. There will be an increased focus on building infrastructure, for example in partnership with Japan in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as well as Africa under the Asia Africa Growth Corridor. In its second term, the Modi government will move rapidly to put more content into its relationship with the West, especially the US, while the Gulf countries will be the focus of energy diplomacy."

Lok Sabha election 2019: US, China and neighbouring countries to be focus areas of new government, say former envoys

<p>A day after Indian general elections results were announced and Bharatiya Janata Party emerged victorious with a thumping majority, veteran actress Shabana Azmi took to Twitter to wish PM Narendra Modi on his party’s victory.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Azmi wrote, "What a strong mandate the people of India have given. Congratulations @narendramodi and NDA led by BJP.”</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What a strong mandate the people of India have given. Congratulations <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> and NDA led by BJP.</p>
— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) <a href="https://twitter.com/AzmiShabana/status/1131549417461313536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Soon after she posted, the actress was trolled as some users said that the actress had vowed to leave the country if PM Modi would emerge victorious in the election. However, Azmi rubbished these reports and said that the ‘fake news brigade’ had attributed a&nbsp;false quote to her. She further added that&nbsp;she is born in India and will take her last breath here.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some trolls at work:</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">फ़ावेद फाहब कहाँ हैं ?</p>
— Ashish Joshi (@kuch_bhi_joshi) <a href="https://twitter.com/kuch_bhi_joshi/status/1131549854860226561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">रात को भी गाड़ी है बहुत सारी पाकिस्तान जाने के।कब निकल रही हो</p>
— मंदिर वहीं बनाएंगे (@Dubey_ji_kahin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dubey_ji_kahin/status/1131569199774441472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">समान पैक कर लिया क्या??</p>
— D. S. Rawat🇮🇳 (@rawat77777) <a href="https://twitter.com/rawat77777/status/1131573278001098753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Mil gayi aazaadi tukde tukde gang ko? 😊</p>
— VishwaGuruBharat (@vbghia) <a href="https://twitter.com/vbghia/status/1131552870006808576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


A day after Indian general elections results were announced and Bharatiya Janata Party emerged victorious with a thumping majority, veteran actress Shabana Azmi took to Twitter to wish PM Narendra Modi on his party’s victory.

A day after Indian general elections results were announced and Bharatiya Janata Party emerged victorious with a thumping majority, veteran actress Shabana Azmi took to Twitter to wish PM Narendra Modi on his party’s victory. Azmi wrote, "What a strong mandate the people of India have given. Congratulations @narendramodi and NDA led by BJP.” What a strong mandate the people of India have given. Congratulations @narendramodi and NDA led by BJP. — Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) May 23, 2019 × Soon after she posted, the actress was trolled as some users said that the actress had vowed to leave the country if PM Modi would emerge victorious in the election. However, Azmi rubbished these reports and said that the ‘fake news brigade’ had attributed a false quote to her. She further added that she is born in India and will take her last breath here. Some trolls at work: फ़ावेद फाहब कहाँ हैं ? — Ashish Joshi (@kuch_bhi_joshi) May 23, 2019 × रात को भी गाड़ी है बहुत सारी पाकिस्तान जाने के।कब निकल रही हो — मंदिर वहीं बनाएंगे (@Dubey_ji_kahin) May 23, 2019 × समान पैक कर लिया क्या?? — D. S. Rawat🇮🇳 (@rawat77777) May 23, 2019 × Mil gayi aazaadi tukde tukde gang ko? 😊 — VishwaGuruBharat (@vbghia) May 23, 2019 ×

Lok Sabha election result: Shabana Azmi trolled for congratulating PM Modi on landslide victory

<p>The results for the 2019 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/lok-sabha-elections-2019-better-management-of-vote-bank-contradictions-nationalism-and-development-were-bjps-keys-221176">Lok Sabha elections</a> are out. BJP is back with a thumping majority and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-polls-2019-pm-modi-made-the-election-a-referendum-on-his-leadership-says-foreign-media-221210">Prime Minister Narendra Modi </a>striding back to power with a staggering mandate, the anticipation is now on when his government would be sworn in.</p>

<p>As per the latest reports, the swearing-in ceremony could take place by the middle of next week — May 30 is the likely date.</p>

<p>In the last Lok Sabha polls, while the counting took place on May 16, PM Modi and his cabinet ministers took oath on May 26.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah Friday called on party veterans LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, a day after the party-led NDA returned to power at the Centre with a massive mandate. "Called on respected Advani Ji. The BJP's successes today are possible because greats like him spent decades building the party and providing a fresh ideological narrative to the people," Modi tweeted.</p>

<p>With over 50% vote share in 300+ seats, Narendra Modi becomes first PM since Nehru to return to power with a bigger mandate.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The results for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections are out. BJP is back with a thumping majority and Prime Minister Narendra Modi striding back to power with a staggering mandate, the anticipation is now on when his government would be sworn in.

The results for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections are out. BJP is back with a thumping majority and Prime Minister Narendra Modi striding back to power with a staggering mandate, the anticipation is now on when his government would be sworn in. As per the latest reports, the swearing-in ceremony could take place by the middle of next week — May 30 is the likely date. In the last Lok Sabha polls, while the counting took place on May 16, PM Modi and his cabinet ministers took oath on May 26. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah Friday called on party veterans LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, a day after the party-led NDA returned to power at the Centre with a massive mandate. "Called on respected Advani Ji. The BJP's successes today are possible because greats like him spent decades building the party and providing a fresh ideological narrative to the people," Modi tweeted. With over 50% vote share in 300+ seats, Narendra Modi becomes first PM since Nehru to return to power with a bigger mandate. (With inputs from agencies)

Lok Sabha polls 2019: Narendra Modi likely to take oath as Prime Minister on May 30

<p>The Congress party is at the crossroads of its 134-year-old existence. Despite a rousing electoral campaign, aided by liberal photo-ops and larger-than-life sound-bytes, it is abundantly clear that Rahul Gandhi is not a saleable commodity.</p>

<p>Had there been anyone else in Rahul’s place, minus a Congress lineage as distinguished as his, he would have long been shown the door and pushed into political oblivion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, fact is that Rahul has continued merrily since March 2004 when he first announced his entry into politics. Fifteen years down the line, this is his time of denouement. Where does Congress go from here? Indeed, where does Rahul go from here?</p>

<p>Rahul’s ‘chowkidar chor hai’ slogan is going to come haunt him and surely will go down as one of the most ill-conceived pieces of poll-time sloganeering — one that may well have signed the epitaph of India’s oldest political party.</p>

<p>The larger question is whether in an aspirational India, entitlement itself is under the hammer as suddenly, even the lowest of the low is feeling the pangs of empowerment. After all, for over six decades, India has invested in democracy and it has to show somewhere. Birth may no longer be enough to win public office, even though there are political scions who have won elections this time as well.</p>

<p>Since his debut in 2004, Rahul has been held out as the great Congress hope to pull the party’s chestnuts out of the fire. It has not played out that way. The party was vanquished out of India’s most politically crucial state, Uttar Pradesh, in 1989, and it has not come back to the Congress. Thereafter, despite being repeatedly projected as the Congress’ prime ministerial aspirant, Rahul has come a cropper, including in a couple of Assembly elections in UP, where the party has been all but marginalised.</p>

<p>A few years ago, there was hope. From winning 10 Lok Sabha seats in 2004 in UP to 21 out of 80 seats in 2009, there seemed promise, but since then, the Modi tsunami has simply swept aside whatever was left of the fight.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2019, it has been no different. This time, the Congress pulled out another supposed ace — Priyanka Gandhi — from its pack of cards to make a dent into proceedings. However, Priyanka’s foray into UP politics in poll 2019 is another classic example of what has gone wrong with Congress politics. First, came the coy announcement — not so much an announcement as a mealy-mouthed hint — that she may contest from Varanasi. It energised a demoralised Congress cadre, lying dormant for decades in the state. But only temporarily. Within days came a less-than-upfront denial that she had no such plans. Potentially, a Modi-Priyanka standoff was a mouth-watering contest, which would have compelled the prime minister to stay put in his constituency, without travelling too much. But the prospect of defeat is simply too much to stomach for the Gandhi family and Priyanka backed out at the last minute.</p>

<p>Congress’s first family is obviously out of touch. Rahul, who had the opportunity of acquiring experience under the Manmohan Singh dispensation as a minister, simply let go of the opportunity — apparently he was made for better things like being prime minister, which has not come to be till now. It would have been a chance of a lifetime to work in a government and see how things function from inside the system. He does not know how a government works, while arch rival Narendra Modi does, having served three terms as Gujarat chief minister.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Likewise, Priyanka backed out from a straight fight against the PM in Varanasi. In the worst case scenario, she would have lost, but the mileage gained would have been worth its weight in gold. For the Gandhi family, no public offices are now given — they will have to fight for it tooth and nail.</p>

<p>Rahul’s rise in the party organisation has been steady. In a reshuffle, he was appointed general secretary of the All India Congress Committee in September 2007. In 2013, he was elevated to the position of party vice-president. But tragically, Congress under his leadership slumped to its lowest-ever tally of 43 Lok Sabha seats. In 2019, it is only an incremental improvement. Rahul’s tally of fancy party designations has led to a corresponding decline in the fortunes of his party.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em>(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-gandhi-family-s-hold-takes-congress-down-the-drain-2753025">original article</a>)</em></p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


The Congress party is at the crossroads of its 134-year-old existence. Despite a rousing electoral campaign, aided by liberal photo-ops and larger-than-life sound-bytes, it is abundantly clear that Rahul Gandhi is not a saleable commodity.

The Congress party is at the crossroads of its 134-year-old existence. Despite a rousing electoral campaign, aided by liberal photo-ops and larger-than-life sound-bytes, it is abundantly clear that Rahul Gandhi is not a saleable commodity. Had there been anyone else in Rahul’s place, minus a Congress lineage as distinguished as his, he would have long been shown the door and pushed into political oblivion. However, fact is that Rahul has continued merrily since March 2004 when he first announced his entry into politics. Fifteen years down the line, this is his time of denouement. Where does Congress go from here? Indeed, where does Rahul go from here? Rahul’s ‘chowkidar chor hai’ slogan is going to come haunt him and surely will go down as one of the most ill-conceived pieces of poll-time sloganeering — one that may well have signed the epitaph of India’s oldest political party. The larger question is whether in an aspirational India, entitlement itself is under the hammer as suddenly, even the lowest of the low is feeling the pangs of empowerment. After all, for over six decades, India has invested in democracy and it has to show somewhere. Birth may no longer be enough to win public office, even though there are political scions who have won elections this time as well. Since his debut in 2004, Rahul has been held out as the great Congress hope to pull the party’s chestnuts out of the fire. It has not played out that way. The party was vanquished out of India’s most politically crucial state, Uttar Pradesh, in 1989, and it has not come back to the Congress. Thereafter, despite being repeatedly projected as the Congress’ prime ministerial aspirant, Rahul has come a cropper, including in a couple of Assembly elections in UP, where the party has been all but marginalised. A few years ago, there was hope. From winning 10 Lok Sabha seats in 2004 in UP to 21 out of 80 seats in 2009, there seemed promise, but since then, the Modi tsunami has simply swept aside whatever was left of the fight. In 2019, it has been no different. This time, the Congress pulled out another supposed ace — Priyanka Gandhi — from its pack of cards to make a dent into proceedings. However, Priyanka’s foray into UP politics in poll 2019 is another classic example of what has gone wrong with Congress politics. First, came the coy announcement — not so much an announcement as a mealy-mouthed hint — that she may contest from Varanasi. It energised a demoralised Congress cadre, lying dormant for decades in the state. But only temporarily. Within days came a less-than-upfront denial that she had no such plans. Potentially, a Modi-Priyanka standoff was a mouth-watering contest, which would have compelled the prime minister to stay put in his constituency, without travelling too much. But the prospect of defeat is simply too much to stomach for the Gandhi family and Priyanka backed out at the last minute. Congress’s first family is obviously out of touch. Rahul, who had the opportunity of acquiring experience under the Manmohan Singh dispensation as a minister, simply let go of the opportunity — apparently he was made for better things like being prime minister, which has not come to be till now. It would have been a chance of a lifetime to work in a government and see how things function from inside the system. He does not know how a government works, while arch rival Narendra Modi does, having served three terms as Gujarat chief minister. Likewise, Priyanka backed out from a straight fight against the PM in Varanasi. In the worst case scenario, she would have lost, but the mileage gained would have been worth its weight in gold. For the Gandhi family, no public offices are now given — they will have to fight for it tooth and nail. Rahul’s rise in the party organisation has been steady. In a reshuffle, he was appointed general secretary of the All India Congress Committee in September 2007. In 2013, he was elevated to the position of party vice-president. But tragically, Congress under his leadership slumped to its lowest-ever tally of 43 Lok Sabha seats. In 2019, it is only an incremental improvement. Rahul’s tally of fancy party designations has led to a corresponding decline in the fortunes of his party. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Lok Sabha election result 2019: Gandhi family’s hold takes Congress down the drain

<p>Narendra Modi-led Bhartiya Janta Party will form the government of India for the next five years after a complete majority win in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-polls-2019-narendra-modi-likely-to-take-oath-as-prime-minister-on-may-30-221221">Lok Sabha election 2019</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The victory is historic as BJP itself won 303 seats that left the opposition dazed and demoralised.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the counting on few of the seats is still going on, the BJP-led NDA is poised to get 348 of the 542 Lok Sabha seats.&nbsp;</p>

<p>From global leaders to Bollywood stars, wishes poured in for the winner of the world's largest democracy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Cricket fraternity too shared greetings and wished PM Modi as the ruling party came back in power with a staggering mandate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Master-blaster Sachin Tendulkar wrote, "My heartiest congratulations to @narendramodi Ji &amp; @BJP4India for winning the #LokSabhaElections2019. The nation is with you in building a brighter and stronger New India."</p>

<p>Virendra Sehwag said, "India has won. The world’s largest democracy has given it’s mandate. Many congratulations to Shri @narendramodi ji on being the leader of this great victory. May the second innings be even better and India continue to progress and reach greater heights. Jai Hind."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My heartiest congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> Ji &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/BJP4India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BJP4India</a> for winning the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LokSabhaElections2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LokSabhaElections2019</a>.<br />
The nation is with you in building a brighter and stronger New India 🇮🇳.</p>
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/1131576584240898048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">India has won. The world’s largest democracy has given it’s mandate. Many congratulations to Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> ji on being the leader of this great victory. May the second innings be even better and India continue to progress and reach greater heights. Jai Hind <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VijayiBharat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VijayiBharat</a> <a href="https://t.co/uQerPssTkH">pic.twitter.com/uQerPssTkH</a></p>
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) <a href="https://twitter.com/virendersehwag/status/1131531325108674560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/BJP4India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BJP4India</a> and Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> ji on a resounding victory. Sincerely hope that India prospers under your leadership in the next 5 years 🙏🏼</p>
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) <a href="https://twitter.com/VVSLaxman281/status/1131528569488756737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Laxman also congratulated Gautam Gambhir, who won the Lok Sabha election from East Delhi constituency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Laxman wrote, "Many Congratulations @GautamGambhir on your victory. Wish you well always. May you serve people well."&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the latest reports, the swearing-in ceremony could take place by the middle of next week — May 30 is the likely date.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the previous Lok Sabha polls,&nbsp;the counting took place on May 16, PM Modi and his cabinet ministers had taken oath on May 26.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">People of the country have given their mandate. Many congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> ji and <a href="https://twitter.com/BJP4India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BJP4India</a> for their second innings and here's hoping for another fantastic term ahead. 🙏</p>
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) <a href="https://twitter.com/SDhawan25/status/1131540653291200512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Indian cricket head coach wrote, "Another stunning @narendramodi &amp; @AmitShah partnership tracerbullets @BJP4India to poll position for second time running. Election results further reaffirm Modi Ji’s leadership of the world's largest democracy. Awesome performance #ModiSweep #IndianElections2019 #VijayiBharat."</p>

<p>All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, "Modi ji's astounding victory is not only the symbol of hope, stability, progress but also it’s a victory of Believers over non-believers. Heartiest congratulations sir. Thank you for being a guiding force for all of us.@narendramodi."</p>

<p>Mohammad Kaif said, "Congratulations PM @narendramodi ji on a resounding victory. May we grow as a nation !"</p>

<p>Spinner R Ashwin said, "Congratulations Prime Minister @narendramodi ji on the resounding victory . I sincerely hope and pray that under your able leadership the country will progress and grow to greater heights"</p>

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Narendra Modi-led Bhartiya Janta Party will form the government of India for the next five years after a complete majority win in the Lok Sabha election 2019. The victory is historic as BJP itself won 303 seats that left the opposition dazed and demoralised.

Narendra Modi-led Bhartiya Janta Party will form the government of India for the next five years after a complete majority win in the Lok Sabha election 2019. The victory is historic as BJP itself won 303 seats that left the opposition dazed and demoralised. While the counting on few of the seats is still going on, the BJP-led NDA is poised to get 348 of the 542 Lok Sabha seats. From global leaders to Bollywood stars, wishes poured in for the winner of the world's largest democracy. Cricket fraternity too shared greetings and wished PM Modi as the ruling party came back in power with a staggering mandate. Master-blaster Sachin Tendulkar wrote, "My heartiest congratulations to @narendramodi Ji & @BJP4India for winning the #LokSabhaElections2019. The nation is with you in building a brighter and stronger New India." Virendra Sehwag said, "India has won. The world’s largest democracy has given it’s mandate. Many congratulations to Shri @narendramodi ji on being the leader of this great victory. May the second innings be even better and India continue to progress and reach greater heights. Jai Hind." My heartiest congratulations to @narendramodi Ji & @BJP4India for winning the #LokSabhaElections2019. The nation is with you in building a brighter and stronger New India 🇮🇳. — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) May 23, 2019 × India has won. The world’s largest democracy has given it’s mandate. Many congratulations to Shri @narendramodi ji on being the leader of this great victory. May the second innings be even better and India continue to progress and reach greater heights. Jai Hind #VijayiBharat pic.twitter.com/uQerPssTkH — Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) May 23, 2019 × Congratulations to @BJP4India and Shri @narendramodi ji on a resounding victory. Sincerely hope that India prospers under your leadership in the next 5 years 🙏🏼 — VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) May 23, 2019 × Laxman also congratulated Gautam Gambhir, who won the Lok Sabha election from East Delhi constituency. Laxman wrote, "Many Congratulations @GautamGambhir on your victory. Wish you well always. May you serve people well." As per the latest reports, the swearing-in ceremony could take place by the middle of next week — May 30 is the likely date. In the previous Lok Sabha polls, the counting took place on May 16, PM Modi and his cabinet ministers had taken oath on May 26. People of the country have given their mandate. Many congratulations to @narendramodi ji and @BJP4India for their second innings and here's hoping for another fantastic term ahead. 🙏 — Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) May 23, 2019 × Indian cricket head coach wrote, "Another stunning @narendramodi & @AmitShah partnership tracerbullets @BJP4India to poll position for second time running. Election results further reaffirm Modi Ji’s leadership of the world's largest democracy. Awesome performance #ModiSweep #IndianElections2019 #VijayiBharat." All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, "Modi ji's astounding victory is not only the symbol of hope, stability, progress but also it’s a victory of Believers over non-believers. Heartiest congratulations sir. Thank you for being a guiding force for all of us.@narendramodi." Mohammad Kaif said, "Congratulations PM @narendramodi ji on a resounding victory. May we grow as a nation !" Spinner R Ashwin said, "Congratulations Prime Minister @narendramodi ji on the resounding victory . I sincerely hope and pray that under your able leadership the country will progress and grow to greater heights" ×

From Sachin to Laxman, cricket fraternity wishes PM Modi for sweeping Lok Sabha 2019 election

<p>BJP leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/nothing-is-impossible-giantslayer-smriti-irani-topples-rahul-gandhi-in-amethi-221132">Smriti Irani</a>, who defeated Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, thanked the people of her constituency in a tweet on Friday morning.</p>

<p>"It's a new morning for Amethi, a new resolve. Thank you Amethi. You placed your trust in development and helped lotus bloom. Grateful for that," Irani said in her tweet in Hindi.</p>

<p>Irani defeated the sitting Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi by a margin of 55,120 votes, uprooting the Congress president from his family bastion. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi had defeated Irani by 1,07,903 votes.</p>

<p>Irani had cultivated a strong voter base in the constituency with her numerous visits and using central development schemes in past five years which helped her inn reversal of fortune.</p>

<p>She shared a silhouette picture of a direwolf on the backdrop of the moon with a quote from popular TV series Game of Thrones "The North Remembers" on her Instagram account.</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx0gNhJHc4J/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">❤️</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/smritiiraniofficial/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Smriti Irani</a> (@smritiiraniofficial) on <time datetime="2019-05-23T21:36:32+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">May 23, 2019 at 2:36pm PDT</time></p>
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<p>Acknowledging Smriti's win in the North and adding that there is love from the South too, an Instagram user commented, "Don't worry mam there is love from south kerala too just that we need better speakers communicators and planing in kerala we tried our best but not enough follow up or action was there suresh ji kumanam ji and k surendran ji are awsome candidates who if there was proper planing and time with resources could have yielded results."</p>

<p>Soon after Gandhi conceded defeat and congratulated her on Thursday, Irani tweeted a line out of Hindi poet Dushyant Kumar. "<em>Kaun kehta hai aasmaan mein suraakh nahin ho sakata</em>", she tweeted. It translates to mean "Nothing is impossible."</p>

<p>From featuring in one of the most watched soap operas in Indian history, to tirelessly campaigning through the streets of Amethi, it was a long journey for the actor-turned-politician. Needless to say, she has owned every bit of the success she has tasted.</p>

<p>At the national level, BJP whose campaign was spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on nationalism and a strident anti-Congress plank, has won 303 seats and is leading on 15 as per the latest details updated on the website of the Election Commission.</p>


BJP leader Smriti Irani, who defeated Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, thanked the people of her constituency in a tweet on Friday morning. "It's a new morning for Amethi, a new resolve.

BJP leader Smriti Irani, who defeated Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, thanked the people of her constituency in a tweet on Friday morning. "It's a new morning for Amethi, a new resolve. Thank you Amethi. You placed your trust in development and helped lotus bloom. Grateful for that," Irani said in her tweet in Hindi. Irani defeated the sitting Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi by a margin of 55,120 votes, uprooting the Congress president from his family bastion. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi had defeated Irani by 1,07,903 votes. Irani had cultivated a strong voter base in the constituency with her numerous visits and using central development schemes in past five years which helped her inn reversal of fortune. She shared a silhouette picture of a direwolf on the backdrop of the moon with a quote from popular TV series Game of Thrones "The North Remembers" on her Instagram account. View this post on Instagram ❤️ A post shared by Smriti Irani (@smritiiraniofficial) on May 23, 2019 at 2:36pm PDT Acknowledging Smriti's win in the North and adding that there is love from the South too, an Instagram user commented, "Don't worry mam there is love from south kerala too just that we need better speakers communicators and planing in kerala we tried our best but not enough follow up or action was there suresh ji kumanam ji and k surendran ji are awsome candidates who if there was proper planing and time with resources could have yielded results." Soon after Gandhi conceded defeat and congratulated her on Thursday, Irani tweeted a line out of Hindi poet Dushyant Kumar. "Kaun kehta hai aasmaan mein suraakh nahin ho sakata", she tweeted. It translates to mean "Nothing is impossible." From featuring in one of the most watched soap operas in Indian history, to tirelessly campaigning through the streets of Amethi, it was a long journey for the actor-turned-politician. Needless to say, she has owned every bit of the success she has tasted. At the national level, BJP whose campaign was spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on nationalism and a strident anti-Congress plank, has won 303 seats and is leading on 15 as per the latest details updated on the website of the Election Commission.

'The North Remembers': Smriti Irani's dig at Rahul Gandhi after Amethi win

<p>Raj Babbar, president of the Uttar Pradesh unit of Congress, has sent his resignation to party president Rahul Gandhi after losing his Fatehpur Sikri seat by a margin of over 4,95,065 votes to BJP's Rajkymar Chahar and Congress's dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections 2019. The party won only one seat in Uttar Pradesh and might even lose the status of the principle opposition party after the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-polls-2019-narendra-modi-likely-to-take-oath-as-prime-minister-on-may-30-221221">BJP's stellar performance</a>.</p>

<p>Babbar sent his resignation taking responsibility for the party's showing in the just-concluded polls, spokesman of the party's UP unit Rajiv Bakshi said.</p>

<p>"The results are depressing for the Uttar Pradesh Congress. I find myself guilty of not discharging my responsibility in a proper manner," Babbar tweeted on Friday.</p>

<p>In Odisha, the chief of Congress' state unit Niranjan Patnaik announced resignation from his post. &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;"I have sent my resignation to AICC President (Rahul Gandhi) owning moral responsibility for the party's poor show in both Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the state," Patnaik said.</p>

<p>While the Congress won only one Lok Sabha seat and nine assembly seats in Odisha, Patnaik also faced defeat in the assembly polls.</p>

<p>Admitting that the Congress had failed to win the confidence of the people, Patnaik said, "The party needs to take concrete steps to set the organisation in proper shape by getting rid of opportunists and attracting youths into its fold."</p>

<p>He said that a committee, headed by senior leader Narasingha Mishra, has been set up to ascertain the reason behind the drubbing suffered by the Congress in Odisha.</p>

<p>The chief of Congress's campaign committee in Karnataka too has offered to resign taking moral responsibility for party's drubbing in the state.</p>

<p>Sealing its phenomenal electoral victory, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-election-result-2019-pm-modi-thanks-world-leaders-sportspersons-and-celebrities-for-their-wishes-on-twitter-221240">Narendra Modi-led BJP</a> crossed the 300 mark and was leading in one seat as counting for votes for 542 Lok Sabha seats neared its end on Friday.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: Welcome Modi 2.0!</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-votes-welcome-modi-20-221148/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The massive exercise began Thursday morning with early trends establishing the BJP's conclusive lead, making it evident that Modi's message, packaging muscular nationalism, security and Hindu pride, had worked wonders.</p>

<p>With the BJP riding a Modi wave that took it past its 2014 tally of 282, the opposition was left way behind with the Congress winning only 52 seats, two less than it needs for a Leader of Opposition post in the lower house and marginally more than the 44 it got in the last general elections.</p>


Raj Babbar, president of the Uttar Pradesh unit of Congress, has sent his resignation to party president Rahul Gandhi after losing his Fatehpur Sikri seat by a margin of over 4,95,065 votes to BJP's Rajkymar Chahar and Congress's dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections 2019.

Raj Babbar, president of the Uttar Pradesh unit of Congress, has sent his resignation to party president Rahul Gandhi after losing his Fatehpur Sikri seat by a margin of over 4,95,065 votes to BJP's Rajkymar Chahar and Congress's dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections 2019. The party won only one seat in Uttar Pradesh and might even lose the status of the principle opposition party after the BJP's stellar performance. Babbar sent his resignation taking responsibility for the party's showing in the just-concluded polls, spokesman of the party's UP unit Rajiv Bakshi said. "The results are depressing for the Uttar Pradesh Congress. I find myself guilty of not discharging my responsibility in a proper manner," Babbar tweeted on Friday. In Odisha, the chief of Congress' state unit Niranjan Patnaik announced resignation from his post. "I have sent my resignation to AICC President (Rahul Gandhi) owning moral responsibility for the party's poor show in both Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the state," Patnaik said. While the Congress won only one Lok Sabha seat and nine assembly seats in Odisha, Patnaik also faced defeat in the assembly polls. Admitting that the Congress had failed to win the confidence of the people, Patnaik said, "The party needs to take concrete steps to set the organisation in proper shape by getting rid of opportunists and attracting youths into its fold." He said that a committee, headed by senior leader Narasingha Mishra, has been set up to ascertain the reason behind the drubbing suffered by the Congress in Odisha. The chief of Congress's campaign committee in Karnataka too has offered to resign taking moral responsibility for party's drubbing in the state. Sealing its phenomenal electoral victory, the Narendra Modi-led BJP crossed the 300 mark and was leading in one seat as counting for votes for 542 Lok Sabha seats neared its end on Friday. Watch: Welcome Modi 2.0! The massive exercise began Thursday morning with early trends establishing the BJP's conclusive lead, making it evident that Modi's message, packaging muscular nationalism, security and Hindu pride, had worked wonders. With the BJP riding a Modi wave that took it past its 2014 tally of 282, the opposition was left way behind with the Congress winning only 52 seats, two less than it needs for a Leader of Opposition post in the lower house and marginally more than the 44 it got in the last general elections.

Lok Sabha elections 2019: Rash of resignations in Congress after election result disaster

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday thanked world leaders and personalities as their congratulatory messages kept pouring in after he led his Bharatiya Janata Party to a super-sized victory for a second term in office.</p>

<p>Thanking American vice president Mike Pence, who congratulated him saying he <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/elections-in-india-an-inspiration-around-the-world-us-221140">looked forward to working with India</a>, Modi said it was a victory of democracy which the India and US cherish.</p>

<p>"Thank You @VP. This is a victory of democracy, which India and the US cherish. I will continue to promote our partnership with the US for peace and shared prosperity for our two countries and the world," Modi tweeted Friday.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>.<br />
<br />
This is a victory of democracy, which India and the US cherish. I will continue to promote our partnership with the US for peace and shared prosperity for our two countries and the world <a href="https://t.co/6zazX9Wmh8">https://t.co/6zazX9Wmh8</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1131797612061908992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Russian President Vladmir Putin too sent his wishes to the PM from his official Twitter handle, to which he responded, "Thank you @KremlinRussia, and my dear friend, for your warm greetings. Your support for taking our special and privileged strategic partnership to new heights is invaluable. I look forward to our meeting soon."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/KremlinRussia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KremlinRussia</a>, and my dear friend, for your warm greetings. Your support for taking our special and privileged strategic partnership to new heights is invaluable. I look forward to our meeting soon. <a href="https://t.co/4JG3OPvZNe">https://t.co/4JG3OPvZNe</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1131809862311075841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>In a series of tweets, Modi thanked world leaders such as Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, France President Emmanuel Macron, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, King Salman of Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and several others who wished him on his party's landslide victory.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you, Your Majesty <a href="https://twitter.com/KingSalman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KingSalman</a> and Your Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for heartfelt greetings. India cherishes deep-rooted and multi-faceted ties with the Kingdom. Look forward to further enhancing our relations for the benefit our citizens. <a href="https://t.co/nXqVCUVom7">https://t.co/nXqVCUVom7</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1131804506591703042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JustinTrudeau</a>. People of India have reposed their faith in democracy and development. India will work with our valued partner Canada for benefit of our citizens, and for world peace and prosperity. <a href="https://t.co/iyy8SpzKeR">https://t.co/iyy8SpzKeR</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1131801950935080960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you my friend, President <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> for your good wishes. I reaffirm my commitment to further strengthen the Strategic Partnership between India and France. I look forward to our meeting soon. <a href="https://t.co/xPVPPRKjdy">https://t.co/xPVPPRKjdy</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1131800464691875840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you President <a href="https://twitter.com/jokowi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jokowi</a> for your warm wishes. Both our countries share a longstanding relationship of goodwill and mutual trust. We will keep working closely on common priorities and challenges. <a href="https://t.co/M5VD4z2Gyq">https://t.co/M5VD4z2Gyq</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1131798811414634496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you President <a href="https://twitter.com/MBuhari?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MBuhari</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NGRPresident?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NGRPresident</a> for your wishes. India-Nigeria relations have grown from strength to strength in the last few years. And, I am committed to continue working with you to further enhance our bilateral ties. <a href="https://t.co/4o4I6wonnK">https://t.co/4o4I6wonnK</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1131798052472180736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you President <a href="https://twitter.com/edmnangagwa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@edmnangagwa</a>. I am committed to continue working with you to strengthen the special relationship between India and Zimbabwe. <a href="https://t.co/jMn220QjPL">https://t.co/jMn220QjPL</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1131802950492286976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>In his messages to the world leaders, the PM said he looked forward to strengthening close strategic partnership with these countries.<br />
Modi took to Twitter to also thank Bollywood celebrities and sportspersons who congratulated him.</p>

<p>He thanked actors Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Raveena Tandon, R Madhavan, music composer A R Rahman and Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan saying he cherished the good wishes from them.</p>

<p>He thanked boxer Mary Kom, athlete and Commonwealth Games gold winner Neeraj Chopra.</p>


Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday thanked world leaders and personalities as their congratulatory messages kept pouring in after he led his Bharatiya Janata Party to a super-sized victory for a second term in office.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday thanked world leaders and personalities as their congratulatory messages kept pouring in after he led his Bharatiya Janata Party to a super-sized victory for a second term in office. Thanking American vice president Mike Pence, who congratulated him saying he looked forward to working with India, Modi said it was a victory of democracy which the India and US cherish. "Thank You @VP. This is a victory of democracy, which India and the US cherish. I will continue to promote our partnership with the US for peace and shared prosperity for our two countries and the world," Modi tweeted Friday. Thank you @VP. This is a victory of democracy, which India and the US cherish. I will continue to promote our partnership with the US for peace and shared prosperity for our two countries and the world https://t.co/6zazX9Wmh8 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 24, 2019 × Russian President Vladmir Putin too sent his wishes to the PM from his official Twitter handle, to which he responded, "Thank you @KremlinRussia, and my dear friend, for your warm greetings. Your support for taking our special and privileged strategic partnership to new heights is invaluable. I look forward to our meeting soon." Thank you @KremlinRussia, and my dear friend, for your warm greetings. Your support for taking our special and privileged strategic partnership to new heights is invaluable. I look forward to our meeting soon. https://t.co/4JG3OPvZNe — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 24, 2019 × In a series of tweets, Modi thanked world leaders such as Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, France President Emmanuel Macron, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, King Salman of Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and several others who wished him on his party's landslide victory. Thank you, Your Majesty @KingSalman and Your Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for heartfelt greetings. India cherishes deep-rooted and multi-faceted ties with the Kingdom. Look forward to further enhancing our relations for the benefit our citizens. https://t.co/nXqVCUVom7 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 24, 2019 × Thank you @JustinTrudeau. People of India have reposed their faith in democracy and development. India will work with our valued partner Canada for benefit of our citizens, and for world peace and prosperity. https://t.co/iyy8SpzKeR — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 24, 2019 × Thank you my friend, President @EmmanuelMacron for your good wishes. I reaffirm my commitment to further strengthen the Strategic Partnership between India and France. I look forward to our meeting soon. https://t.co/xPVPPRKjdy — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 24, 2019 × Thank you President @jokowi for your warm wishes. Both our countries share a longstanding relationship of goodwill and mutual trust. We will keep working closely on common priorities and challenges. https://t.co/M5VD4z2Gyq — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 24, 2019 × Thank you President @MBuhari @NGRPresident for your wishes. India-Nigeria relations have grown from strength to strength in the last few years. And, I am committed to continue working with you to further enhance our bilateral ties. https://t.co/4o4I6wonnK — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 24, 2019 × Thank you President @edmnangagwa. I am committed to continue working with you to strengthen the special relationship between India and Zimbabwe. https://t.co/jMn220QjPL — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 24, 2019 × In his messages to the world leaders, the PM said he looked forward to strengthening close strategic partnership with these countries. Modi took to Twitter to also thank Bollywood celebrities and sportspersons who congratulated him. He thanked actors Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Raveena Tandon, R Madhavan, music composer A R Rahman and Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan saying he cherished the good wishes from them. He thanked boxer Mary Kom, athlete and Commonwealth Games gold winner Neeraj Chopra.

Lok Sabha election result 2019: PM Modi thanks world leaders, sportspersons and celebrities for their wishes on Twitter

<p>Narendra Modi-led BJP is back with thumping majority whereas Congress suffered a humiliating defeat with most of its strategies turning out to be electorally disastrous.</p>

<p>Although I insist, it was hard to ignore Congress president Rahul Gandhi this election who tried hard to revamp his own image and the organisational structure of the grand old party. The Gandhi scion appeared&nbsp;confident and mature&nbsp;on the campaign trail.</p>

<p>In fact, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, the party also swept 2019 Assembly elections with victory in three Hindi heartland states.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite the hard work, Congress failed to stay in sync with the other opposition parties and take on the BJP in an effective manner. Priyanka Gandhi and NYAY scheme came in little too late. Moreover, Rafael jet deal allegations and 'Chowkidar Chor Hai campaign' also backfired for the party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Let's analyse what all&nbsp;went wrong for the party.</p>

<p><strong>Soft-Hindutva Push&nbsp;and Hasty Campaigns</strong></p>

<p>Rahul and Priyanka were seen visiting various temples in the run-up to Lok Sabha elections. Congress, which accuses BJP of being a pro-Hindu party and positions itself as minority leaning party, was attacked by political pundits for deviating from its secular ideas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Congress's 'soft-Hindutva' card pitted against BJP's 'Hindutva' push did not go well with people. It was seen as a move to win Hindu votes.</p>

<p>Moreover, the 'Chowkidar Chor Hai Campaign' of the grand old party (targetting Narendra Modi as a corrupt leader) was countered with 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign of BJP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The campaign boomeranged and the Supreme Court asked Gandhi scion to apologise for attributing the slogan 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' to the Supreme Court.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Furthermore, while playing the Rafale blame game, Congress could not provide any reliable evidence for corruption against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.</p>

<p>As a final push to bring the focus back on economic crisis and jobs, Congress, belatedly, introduced the NYAY scheme towards the end of campaign. However, the scheme&nbsp;failed to leave any impact on electorates.</p>

<p><br />
<strong>Priyanka's Entry: Too Little, Too Late</strong></p>

<p>Post-2014 defeat, political pundits and well-wishers of Congress party considered Priyanka Gandhi a&nbsp;'Brahmastra', someone who could revive the party. &nbsp;She had campaigned for Congress earlier but made an official entry into politics this election.</p>

<p>Priyanka proved to be a crowd puller in Uttar Pradesh and won hearts but her entry came too late to create a strong vote bank. Also, Priyanka and Rahul messed up by creating speculations about her possible candidature from Varanasi against PM Modi.</p>

<p>The fiasco reflected lack of seriousness and sent out a signal that Priyanka wasn't ready to take on Modi. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Failure in Forging Alliances</strong></p>

<p>In Uttar Pradesh, which sends maximum seat- 80- &nbsp;to Lok Sabha, SP President Akhilesh Yadav and BSP Supremo Mayawati refused to tie-up with Congress following differences over seat-sharing ratio. Consequently, it ended up as a three-way battle of ballots in the state and Congress performed poorly.</p>

<p>In Delhi too, Congress failed to stitch an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party, and hence, giving an edge to BJP. They could have stopped the splitting of votes by jointly taking on the Saffron party. According to political observers, the alliance had the potential to defeat BJP.</p>

<p>On the national level too, Mamata Banerjee didn't approve&nbsp;Rahul Gandhi as the PM face of 'Mahagathbandhan'. Both of them reportedly wanted to be in the driver's seat. Sharad Pawar and Chandrababu Naidu requested Mamata and Congress leadership to reach an electoral understanding keeping aside their differences but all efforts went in vain.</p>

<p>Congress knew that in terms of leadership and share of seats, regional parties held the key yet it refused to compromise on its national party image, giving a major dent to the prospects of 'Mahagathbandhan'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some Congress leaders insist&nbsp;that the party had decided to go alone in the Lok Sabha elections for its long-term revival. However, Congress's reluctance to become a minority partner to regional parties made it easier for the BJP to sweep the elections.<br />
<br />
The question that arises now is - what next for Rahul Gandhi and Congress?&nbsp;Rahul is unlikely to face a leadership challenge immediately, but Congress`s continued slide has raised questions about its future.<br />
<br />
<em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Narendra Modi-led BJP is back with thumping majority whereas Congress suffered a humiliating defeat with most of its strategies turning out to be electorally disastrous.

Narendra Modi-led BJP is back with thumping majority whereas Congress suffered a humiliating defeat with most of its strategies turning out to be electorally disastrous. Although I insist, it was hard to ignore Congress president Rahul Gandhi this election who tried hard to revamp his own image and the organisational structure of the grand old party. The Gandhi scion appeared confident and mature on the campaign trail. In fact, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, the party also swept 2019 Assembly elections with victory in three Hindi heartland states. Despite the hard work, Congress failed to stay in sync with the other opposition parties and take on the BJP in an effective manner. Priyanka Gandhi and NYAY scheme came in little too late. Moreover, Rafael jet deal allegations and 'Chowkidar Chor Hai campaign' also backfired for the party. Let's analyse what all went wrong for the party. Soft-Hindutva Push and Hasty Campaigns Rahul and Priyanka were seen visiting various temples in the run-up to Lok Sabha elections. Congress, which accuses BJP of being a pro-Hindu party and positions itself as minority leaning party, was attacked by political pundits for deviating from its secular ideas. Congress's 'soft-Hindutva' card pitted against BJP's 'Hindutva' push did not go well with people. It was seen as a move to win Hindu votes. Moreover, the 'Chowkidar Chor Hai Campaign' of the grand old party (targetting Narendra Modi as a corrupt leader) was countered with 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign of BJP. The campaign boomeranged and the Supreme Court asked Gandhi scion to apologise for attributing the slogan 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' to the Supreme Court. Furthermore, while playing the Rafale blame game, Congress could not provide any reliable evidence for corruption against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As a final push to bring the focus back on economic crisis and jobs, Congress, belatedly, introduced the NYAY scheme towards the end of campaign. However, the scheme failed to leave any impact on electorates. Priyanka's Entry: Too Little, Too Late Post-2014 defeat, political pundits and well-wishers of Congress party considered Priyanka Gandhi a 'Brahmastra', someone who could revive the party. She had campaigned for Congress earlier but made an official entry into politics this election. Priyanka proved to be a crowd puller in Uttar Pradesh and won hearts but her entry came too late to create a strong vote bank. Also, Priyanka and Rahul messed up by creating speculations about her possible candidature from Varanasi against PM Modi. The fiasco reflected lack of seriousness and sent out a signal that Priyanka wasn't ready to take on Modi. Failure in Forging Alliances In Uttar Pradesh, which sends maximum seat- 80- to Lok Sabha, SP President Akhilesh Yadav and BSP Supremo Mayawati refused to tie-up with Congress following differences over seat-sharing ratio. Consequently, it ended up as a three-way battle of ballots in the state and Congress performed poorly. In Delhi too, Congress failed to stitch an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party, and hence, giving an edge to BJP. They could have stopped the splitting of votes by jointly taking on the Saffron party. According to political observers, the alliance had the potential to defeat BJP. On the national level too, Mamata Banerjee didn't approve Rahul Gandhi as the PM face of 'Mahagathbandhan'. Both of them reportedly wanted to be in the driver's seat. Sharad Pawar and Chandrababu Naidu requested Mamata and Congress leadership to reach an electoral understanding keeping aside their differences but all efforts went in vain. Congress knew that in terms of leadership and share of seats, regional parties held the key yet it refused to compromise on its national party image, giving a major dent to the prospects of 'Mahagathbandhan'. Some Congress leaders insist that the party had decided to go alone in the Lok Sabha elections for its long-term revival. However, Congress's reluctance to become a minority partner to regional parties made it easier for the BJP to sweep the elections. The question that arises now is - what next for Rahul Gandhi and Congress? Rahul is unlikely to face a leadership challenge immediately, but Congress`s continued slide has raised questions about its future. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Lok Sabha election result 2019: Congress has nobody other than itself to blame for the debacle

<p>The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/lok-sabha-elections-2019-better-management-of-vote-bank-contradictions-nationalism-and-development-were-bjps-keys-221176">BJP, which won 24 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats</a> in Rajasthan where it had lost the 2018 assembly polls to the Congress, saw its vote share increase from 54.94 per cent in 2014 to 58.5 per cent in this general election.</p>

<p>The saffron party had contested on 24 seats and its ally Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) on one seat, which it won.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Congress, which could not win a single Lok Sabha constituency in the desert state, also witnessed an increase in vote share from 30.36 per cent in 2014 to 34.2 per cent this time, according to Election Commission data. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The vote share of the BJP and the Congress increased by 3.56 and 3.84 percentage points respectively.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The BSP, CPI, CPM saw a fall in vote share by 1.27, 0.12 and 0.09 percentage points respectively as compared to 2014, according to EC data.</p>

<p>Prime minister Narendra Modi conducted eight rallies while Congress president Rahul Gandhi addressed nine rallies during the Lok Sabha elections in the state, but the Congress failed to open its account.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The winning margin on 20 seats increased and on five seats, it decreased as compared to 2014.</p>

<p>The increase in the winning margin is over 3 lakh for the Bhilwara seat.BJP's Subhash Chandra Baheria won with a margin of 6,12,000 votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2014, he won this seat with a margin of 2,46,264 votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The EC data said an increase from 2 to 3 lakh in the vote margin was also registered in Ajmer, Barmer, Banswara, Chittorgarh and Udaipur Lok Sabha seats.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;India hopes for economic revival under NDA 2.0</strong></p>

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<p>The Ganganagar, Jhalawar-Baran, Rajsamand and Nagaur seats also saw an increase in the winning margins in comparison to that in 2014.</p>

<p>In Nagaur, BJP's alliance partner RLP contested and its candidate Hanuman Beniwal won with a margin of 1,81,260 votes, which is 1.06 lakh more than the winning margin of 2014.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The seats where the winning margin decreased are Bikaner, Jaipur, Jalore, Jodhpur and Tonk.</p>

<p>Union ministers of State Arjun Ram Meghwal and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat contested and won the Bikaner and Jodhpur seats respectively.</p>

<p>Shekhawat, who had won the seat in 2014 with a margin of 4.10 lakh votes, this time emerged victorious with a margin of 2.74 lakh votes.</p>

<p>Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Deputy Chief Minister and Congress party president Sachin Pilot conducted rallies and intense campaign, but couldn't get the electorate to vote for the party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Whereas PM Modi held rallies in Chittorgarh, Barmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Karauli-Dholpur, Sikar and Bikaner constituencies, Rahul was in Dungarpur, Ajmer, Jalore, Kota, Karauli-Dholpur, Churu, Jaipur rural, Sikar and Bharatpur constituencies during the election campaign.</p>


The BJP, which won 24 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan where it had lost the 2018 assembly polls to the Congress, saw its vote share increase from 54.94 per cent in 2014 to 58.

The BJP, which won 24 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan where it had lost the 2018 assembly polls to the Congress, saw its vote share increase from 54.94 per cent in 2014 to 58.5 per cent in this general election. The saffron party had contested on 24 seats and its ally Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) on one seat, which it won. The Congress, which could not win a single Lok Sabha constituency in the desert state, also witnessed an increase in vote share from 30.36 per cent in 2014 to 34.2 per cent this time, according to Election Commission data. The vote share of the BJP and the Congress increased by 3.56 and 3.84 percentage points respectively. The BSP, CPI, CPM saw a fall in vote share by 1.27, 0.12 and 0.09 percentage points respectively as compared to 2014, according to EC data. Prime minister Narendra Modi conducted eight rallies while Congress president Rahul Gandhi addressed nine rallies during the Lok Sabha elections in the state, but the Congress failed to open its account. The winning margin on 20 seats increased and on five seats, it decreased as compared to 2014. The increase in the winning margin is over 3 lakh for the Bhilwara seat.BJP's Subhash Chandra Baheria won with a margin of 6,12,000 votes. In 2014, he won this seat with a margin of 2,46,264 votes. The EC data said an increase from 2 to 3 lakh in the vote margin was also registered in Ajmer, Barmer, Banswara, Chittorgarh and Udaipur Lok Sabha seats. Watch: India hopes for economic revival under NDA 2.0 The Ganganagar, Jhalawar-Baran, Rajsamand and Nagaur seats also saw an increase in the winning margins in comparison to that in 2014. In Nagaur, BJP's alliance partner RLP contested and its candidate Hanuman Beniwal won with a margin of 1,81,260 votes, which is 1.06 lakh more than the winning margin of 2014. The seats where the winning margin decreased are Bikaner, Jaipur, Jalore, Jodhpur and Tonk. Union ministers of State Arjun Ram Meghwal and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat contested and won the Bikaner and Jodhpur seats respectively. Shekhawat, who had won the seat in 2014 with a margin of 4.10 lakh votes, this time emerged victorious with a margin of 2.74 lakh votes. Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Deputy Chief Minister and Congress party president Sachin Pilot conducted rallies and intense campaign, but couldn't get the electorate to vote for the party. Whereas PM Modi held rallies in Chittorgarh, Barmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Karauli-Dholpur, Sikar and Bikaner constituencies, Rahul was in Dungarpur, Ajmer, Jalore, Kota, Karauli-Dholpur, Churu, Jaipur rural, Sikar and Bharatpur constituencies during the election campaign.

Lok Sabha election result 2019: BJP gets over 58% vote share in Rajasthan

<p>Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan congratulated the BJP for its victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and thanked the people who voted for his party - the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) - in the Assembly elections.</p>

<p>Speaking to reporters at his party office here, Haasan said that their party was like a 15-month-old baby and appreciated how people voted for MNM's brand of honest politics. However, Haasan's party did not win any seats in the 22 Assembly bypolls in Tamil Nadu or the 39 parliamentary seats across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.</p>

<p>Responding to questions on the massive victory of the BJP, Haasan said, "Its people's verdict, but not that of the people of Tamil Nadu - in reference to the BJP-led NDA winning only a single seat of the 38 seats in the state. It is their responsibility to ensure that they would work for the welfare of Tamil Nadu, and consider the state on equal footing with the ones that they have won."</p>

<p>Clarifying his party's stance on certain projects of the central government that faced opposition in Tamil Nadu, he said, "We are not against development, but we don't want such projects on fertile agricultural lands."</p>

<p>While Haasan's party drew a blank in the polls, they made a statement by exceeding one lakh votes in few constituencies and by coming third in few others. He said, "We have done well given that we are a new party and did not establish ourselves after splitting from any other political outfit. The main obstacles for our party was widespread poverty and money distribution in the rural pockets."</p>

<p>In some areas we secured 12 per cent vote share and our average vote share is nearly five per cent, Haasan added.</p>

<p>Expressing happiness over his party's decision to go alone without any alliance with major parties, Haasan said that analysts and advisors have foreseen a bright future for the fledgling party.</p>


Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan congratulated the BJP for its victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and thanked the people who voted for his party - the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) - in the Assembly elections.

Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan congratulated the BJP for its victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and thanked the people who voted for his party - the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) - in the Assembly elections. Speaking to reporters at his party office here, Haasan said that their party was like a 15-month-old baby and appreciated how people voted for MNM's brand of honest politics. However, Haasan's party did not win any seats in the 22 Assembly bypolls in Tamil Nadu or the 39 parliamentary seats across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Responding to questions on the massive victory of the BJP, Haasan said, "Its people's verdict, but not that of the people of Tamil Nadu - in reference to the BJP-led NDA winning only a single seat of the 38 seats in the state. It is their responsibility to ensure that they would work for the welfare of Tamil Nadu, and consider the state on equal footing with the ones that they have won." Clarifying his party's stance on certain projects of the central government that faced opposition in Tamil Nadu, he said, "We are not against development, but we don't want such projects on fertile agricultural lands." While Haasan's party drew a blank in the polls, they made a statement by exceeding one lakh votes in few constituencies and by coming third in few others. He said, "We have done well given that we are a new party and did not establish ourselves after splitting from any other political outfit. The main obstacles for our party was widespread poverty and money distribution in the rural pockets." In some areas we secured 12 per cent vote share and our average vote share is nearly five per cent, Haasan added. Expressing happiness over his party's decision to go alone without any alliance with major parties, Haasan said that analysts and advisors have foreseen a bright future for the fledgling party.

Kamal Hassan congratulates BJP for Lok Sabha election win, urges them to work for Tamil Nadu

<p>In the wake of the Congress' dismal performance in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-election-results-2019-bjp-ally-maintain-lead-over-rivals-in-up-220995">Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh</a>, state party president Raj Babbar has sent his resignation to Rahul Gandhi.</p>

<p>Babbar has sent his resignation to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, a spokesman of the party's state unit Rajiv Bakshi told PTI here.</p>

<p>He has sent his resignation taking responsibility for the party's showing in the just-concluded polls, Bakshi said.</p>

<p>Babbar tweeted in Hindi on Friday," The results are depressing for the Uttar Pradesh Congress. I find myself guilty of not discharging my responsibility in a proper manner."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I will meet the leadership and apprise it of my views. Congratulations to the winners for winning the confidence of the people," he said.</p>

<p>Of the 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, Congress managed to win only the Rae Bareli seat of Sonia Gandhi and Raj Babbar, who contested from Fatehpur Sikri , lost by a margin of over 4,95,065 votes to BJP's Rajkumar Chahar.</p>

<p>The BJP and its ally Apna Dal(S) have won 64 seats, while the SP-BSP alliance won 15 seats between them.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read: 'There is no place for dynasty rulers, corrupt leaders in this nation' says Yogi Adityanath</strong></p>

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In the wake of the Congress' dismal performance in the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh, state party president Raj Babbar has sent his resignation to Rahul Gandhi.

In the wake of the Congress' dismal performance in the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh, state party president Raj Babbar has sent his resignation to Rahul Gandhi. Babbar has sent his resignation to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, a spokesman of the party's state unit Rajiv Bakshi told PTI here. He has sent his resignation taking responsibility for the party's showing in the just-concluded polls, Bakshi said. Babbar tweeted in Hindi on Friday," The results are depressing for the Uttar Pradesh Congress. I find myself guilty of not discharging my responsibility in a proper manner." "I will meet the leadership and apprise it of my views. Congratulations to the winners for winning the confidence of the people," he said. Of the 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, Congress managed to win only the Rae Bareli seat of Sonia Gandhi and Raj Babbar, who contested from Fatehpur Sikri , lost by a margin of over 4,95,065 votes to BJP's Rajkumar Chahar. The BJP and its ally Apna Dal(S) have won 64 seats, while the SP-BSP alliance won 15 seats between them. Also read: 'There is no place for dynasty rulers, corrupt leaders in this nation' says Yogi Adityanath ×

Lok Sabha election result 2019: UP Congress chief Raj Babbar sends resignation to Rahul Gandhi

<p>TRS Lok Sabha candidates were leading in nine segments and BJP in four in Telangana after three hours of counting Thursday.</p>

<p>The Congress was leading in three seats.</p>

<p>AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi was ahead in Hyderabad seat, where he is seeking reelection for the fourth successive time, according to Election Commission sources.</p>

<p>Initial trends suggested gains for the BJP.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-election-results-2019-live-updates-220687">Get LIVE updates here.</a></p>

<p>In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the TRS had bagged 11 seats and the Congress two, while the BJP, YSRCP, TDP and AIMIM shared one each.</p>

<p>TRS supremo and Telangana Chief Minister's daughter K Kavitha was trailing in Nizamabad by 13,581votes to BJP's D Arvind who was leading.</p>

<p>BJP candidates were leading in Adilabad, Karimnagar and Secunderabad also.</p>

<p>Congress nominees were leading in Malajgiri, Nalgonda, Chevella.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;BJP+ well on course to sweep the polls</strong></p>

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<p>Telangana Congress working president Revanth Reddy was leading in Malkajgiri by 19,220 as per the latest trends available.</p>

<p>Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy has&nbsp;established a lead of 12,221 votes in Nalgonda.</p>

<p>Chevella sitting MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy was leading by 4,555 votes over his nearest TRS rival Ranjith Reddy.</p>

<p>BJP candidate B Sanjay was leading by 47,228 votes against his nearest rival and sitting TRS MP B Vinod Kumar in Karimnagar after the second round.</p>

<p>Soyam Bapurao of BJP was leading by 32,354 votes after the first round over his TRS rival Godam Nagesh in Adilabad, official sources said.</p>

<p>Owaisi was leading in Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat by nearly 60,000 votes over his BJP rival Bhagavanth Rao.</p>

<p>Former Union Minister Renuka Chowdary was trailing by 54,045 votes in Khammam segment, where TRS nominee N Nageswara Rao was leading.</p>

<p>Polls were held for 17 Lok Sabha seats on April 11.</p>

<p>Counting of votes began at 8 AM Thursday.</p>


TRS Lok Sabha candidates were leading in nine segments and BJP in four in Telangana after three hours of counting Thursday. The Congress was leading in three seats.

TRS Lok Sabha candidates were leading in nine segments and BJP in four in Telangana after three hours of counting Thursday. The Congress was leading in three seats. AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi was ahead in Hyderabad seat, where he is seeking reelection for the fourth successive time, according to Election Commission sources. Initial trends suggested gains for the BJP. Get LIVE updates here. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the TRS had bagged 11 seats and the Congress two, while the BJP, YSRCP, TDP and AIMIM shared one each. TRS supremo and Telangana Chief Minister's daughter K Kavitha was trailing in Nizamabad by 13,581votes to BJP's D Arvind who was leading. BJP candidates were leading in Adilabad, Karimnagar and Secunderabad also. Congress nominees were leading in Malajgiri, Nalgonda, Chevella. Watch: BJP+ well on course to sweep the polls Telangana Congress working president Revanth Reddy was leading in Malkajgiri by 19,220 as per the latest trends available. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy has established a lead of 12,221 votes in Nalgonda. Chevella sitting MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy was leading by 4,555 votes over his nearest TRS rival Ranjith Reddy. BJP candidate B Sanjay was leading by 47,228 votes against his nearest rival and sitting TRS MP B Vinod Kumar in Karimnagar after the second round. Soyam Bapurao of BJP was leading by 32,354 votes after the first round over his TRS rival Godam Nagesh in Adilabad, official sources said. Owaisi was leading in Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat by nearly 60,000 votes over his BJP rival Bhagavanth Rao. Former Union Minister Renuka Chowdary was trailing by 54,045 votes in Khammam segment, where TRS nominee N Nageswara Rao was leading. Polls were held for 17 Lok Sabha seats on April 11. Counting of votes began at 8 AM Thursday.

Lok Sabha election result 2019: TRS leading in nine seats, BJP in four in Telangana

<p>The BJP appeared set for a resounding comeback on Thursday with leads in 328 seats while the Congress trailed far behind with 101, according to trends available with the Election Commission for 495 of 542 Lok Sabha seats.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-election-results-2019-live-updates-220687"><strong>Click here for LIVE Updates</strong></a></p>

<p>As votes for the seven-phase parliamentary polls were counted on Thursday, the DMK was ahead in 20 seats, the Janata Dal-United in 15, the Trinamool Congress in 20 and the Bahujan Samaj Party in 12 and its ally Samajwadi Party in eight seats, according to the poll panel.</p>

<p>Television channels showed the BJP surging ahead with leads in more than 320 seats.</p>

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<p>As the trends came in, pointing to another tenure of Narendra Modi as prime minister, there were reports of celebrations in the BJP's party offices across the country.</p>

<p>The trends of the ruling party's leads were in sync with the exit polls, most of which predicted that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would be on course to retain power for a second term.</p>

<p>In 2014, the BJP won 282 seats, leaving the Congress with an all-time low of 44 seats against the 206 it won in 2009.</p>

<p>The counting exercise is on in over 4,000 counting centres amid concerns raised by opposition parties over alleged tampering of EVMs. They have asked the Election Commission to ensure transparency in counting. Election Commission officials said results are expected only by late evening.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The voting was staggered between April 11 and May 19 in which around 67 per cent of the nearly 900 million eligible people exercised their franchise to elect 542 members of the Lok Sabha from a total of 8,049 contestants.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For the first time in Lok Sabha polls, the EC is tallying the vote count on Electronic Voting Machines with voter-verified paper audit trail slips in five polling stations in each assembly segment of a parliamentary constituency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It will effectively mean that out of nearly 10.3 lakh polling stations, the EVM-VVPAT matching will take place in 20,600 such stations. In case of a mismatch, the results based on paper slip count will be considered as final.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, elections were held in 542 constituencies as the EC had cancelled polls to the Vellore constituency on the ground of excessive use of money power.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday alerted all state chief secretaries and directors general of police about the possibility of eruption of violence in different parts of the country during the counting of votes.</p>

<p>"This is in the wake of calls given and statements made in various quarters for inciting violence and causing disruption on the day of the counting of votes," a Home Ministry statement said.</p>


The BJP appeared set for a resounding comeback on Thursday with leads in 328 seats while the Congress trailed far behind with 101, according to trends available with the Election Commission for 495 of 542 Lok Sabha seats.

The BJP appeared set for a resounding comeback on Thursday with leads in 328 seats while the Congress trailed far behind with 101, according to trends available with the Election Commission for 495 of 542 Lok Sabha seats. Click here for LIVE Updates As votes for the seven-phase parliamentary polls were counted on Thursday, the DMK was ahead in 20 seats, the Janata Dal-United in 15, the Trinamool Congress in 20 and the Bahujan Samaj Party in 12 and its ally Samajwadi Party in eight seats, according to the poll panel. Television channels showed the BJP surging ahead with leads in more than 320 seats. As the trends came in, pointing to another tenure of Narendra Modi as prime minister, there were reports of celebrations in the BJP's party offices across the country. The trends of the ruling party's leads were in sync with the exit polls, most of which predicted that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would be on course to retain power for a second term. In 2014, the BJP won 282 seats, leaving the Congress with an all-time low of 44 seats against the 206 it won in 2009. The counting exercise is on in over 4,000 counting centres amid concerns raised by opposition parties over alleged tampering of EVMs. They have asked the Election Commission to ensure transparency in counting. Election Commission officials said results are expected only by late evening. The voting was staggered between April 11 and May 19 in which around 67 per cent of the nearly 900 million eligible people exercised their franchise to elect 542 members of the Lok Sabha from a total of 8,049 contestants. For the first time in Lok Sabha polls, the EC is tallying the vote count on Electronic Voting Machines with voter-verified paper audit trail slips in five polling stations in each assembly segment of a parliamentary constituency. It will effectively mean that out of nearly 10.3 lakh polling stations, the EVM-VVPAT matching will take place in 20,600 such stations. In case of a mismatch, the results based on paper slip count will be considered as final. Out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, elections were held in 542 constituencies as the EC had cancelled polls to the Vellore constituency on the ground of excessive use of money power. The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday alerted all state chief secretaries and directors general of police about the possibility of eruption of violence in different parts of the country during the counting of votes. "This is in the wake of calls given and statements made in various quarters for inciting violence and causing disruption on the day of the counting of votes," a Home Ministry statement said.

BJP surges ahead with 328 seats in early trends, Congress trails far behind with 101

<p>DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) in Tamil Nadu appeared headed for a clean sweep as it led in 35 of the 38 Lok Sabha seats in the state Thursday.</p>

<p>The ruling AIADMK, which had registered a landslide in the 2014 elections under the leadership of its supremo late Jayalalithaa, is trailing in most of the 20 seats it contested as also its allies, including the BJP.</p>

<p>The AIADMK-led NDA is ahead in only three constituencies, according to the latest Election Commission trends.</p>

<p>AIADMK's greenhorn and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's son P Raveendranath Kumar was leading over Congress veteran EVKS Elngovan in Theni.</p>

<p>NDA constituent Anbumani Ramadoss of PMK is leading in Dharmapuri over his nearest SPA candidate.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Trends show Congress heavyweights trailing</strong></p>

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<p>The votes polled in the April 18 elections held to 38 Lok Sabha seats in the state is underway in 45 centres across the state. Election in Vellore constituency has been countermanded.</p>

<p>DMK alone was leading in 22 seats while it key ally the Congress surged ahead in eight of the nine seats it fought, as a total reversal appeared on cards compared to the 2014 poll when the AIADMK had 37 seats.</p>

<p>Reacting to the early trends of DMK surge, its leader and Chennai Central constituency candidate Dayanidhi Maran attributed it to a "severe anti-Modi wave" in the state.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-election-results-2019-live-updates-220687">Get LIVE updates here.</a></p>

<p>Crediting DMK chief M K Stalin for cobbling up a "formidable alliance", he alleged NDA regime had neglected the state.</p>

<p>"Our leader Stalin has ensure a formidable alliance which has triumphed. Strategy adopted by him is the reason for our sweep in Tamil Nadu," he told PTI at a counting centre.</p>

<p>In an apparent bucking of the trend in the Lok Sabha polls, AIADMK was in a neck and neck race with DMK in the 22 Assembly seats which went for bypolls.</p>

<p>If the ruling party managed to hold on to the nine seats it was leading, it could ward off any threat to the K Palaniswami government.</p>

<p>The DMK was leading in 11 seats while AIADMK in nine, according to the EC trends.</p>

<p>In the Lok Sabha trends, Prominent DMK candidates, including Kanimozhi, sister of Stalin, former Ministers Dayanidhi Maran, A Raja, TR Baalu and SS Palanimanickam registered comfortable leads against their rivals, including those from AIADMK and BJP.</p>

<p>Congress' star candidates Karti P Chidambaram and former TNCC chief Su Thirunavukkarasar took comfortable leads in Sivaganga and Tiruchirappalli, respectively.</p>

<p>SPA allies CPI (M) and CPI were also leading in their respective seats.</p>

<p>Contrary to expectations, TTV Dhinakaran's Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) and actor Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) failed to make any impact in their debut Lok Sabha polls.</p>

<p>So far, they were no reports of any untoward incidents as counting was proceeding smoothly, officials said.</p>

<p>For the AIADMK, stakes are higher in the assembly by-polls, as the outcome would determine its continuance in power.</p>


DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) in Tamil Nadu appeared headed for a clean sweep as it led in 35 of the 38 Lok Sabha seats in the state Thursday. The ruling AIADMK, which had registered a landslide in the 2014 elections under the leadership of its supremo late Jayalalithaa, is trailing in most of the 20 seats it contested as also its allies, including the BJP.

DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) in Tamil Nadu appeared headed for a clean sweep as it led in 35 of the 38 Lok Sabha seats in the state Thursday. The ruling AIADMK, which had registered a landslide in the 2014 elections under the leadership of its supremo late Jayalalithaa, is trailing in most of the 20 seats it contested as also its allies, including the BJP. The AIADMK-led NDA is ahead in only three constituencies, according to the latest Election Commission trends. AIADMK's greenhorn and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's son P Raveendranath Kumar was leading over Congress veteran EVKS Elngovan in Theni. NDA constituent Anbumani Ramadoss of PMK is leading in Dharmapuri over his nearest SPA candidate. Watch: Trends show Congress heavyweights trailing The votes polled in the April 18 elections held to 38 Lok Sabha seats in the state is underway in 45 centres across the state. Election in Vellore constituency has been countermanded. DMK alone was leading in 22 seats while it key ally the Congress surged ahead in eight of the nine seats it fought, as a total reversal appeared on cards compared to the 2014 poll when the AIADMK had 37 seats. Reacting to the early trends of DMK surge, its leader and Chennai Central constituency candidate Dayanidhi Maran attributed it to a "severe anti-Modi wave" in the state. Get LIVE updates here. Crediting DMK chief M K Stalin for cobbling up a "formidable alliance", he alleged NDA regime had neglected the state. "Our leader Stalin has ensure a formidable alliance which has triumphed. Strategy adopted by him is the reason for our sweep in Tamil Nadu," he told PTI at a counting centre. In an apparent bucking of the trend in the Lok Sabha polls, AIADMK was in a neck and neck race with DMK in the 22 Assembly seats which went for bypolls. If the ruling party managed to hold on to the nine seats it was leading, it could ward off any threat to the K Palaniswami government. The DMK was leading in 11 seats while AIADMK in nine, according to the EC trends. In the Lok Sabha trends, Prominent DMK candidates, including Kanimozhi, sister of Stalin, former Ministers Dayanidhi Maran, A Raja, TR Baalu and SS Palanimanickam registered comfortable leads against their rivals, including those from AIADMK and BJP. Congress' star candidates Karti P Chidambaram and former TNCC chief Su Thirunavukkarasar took comfortable leads in Sivaganga and Tiruchirappalli, respectively. SPA allies CPI (M) and CPI were also leading in their respective seats. Contrary to expectations, TTV Dhinakaran's Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) and actor Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) failed to make any impact in their debut Lok Sabha polls. So far, they were no reports of any untoward incidents as counting was proceeding smoothly, officials said. For the AIADMK, stakes are higher in the assembly by-polls, as the outcome would determine its continuance in power.

DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance appears on course for sweep in Tamil Nadu, leads in 35 seats

<p>The BJP and its ally Apna Dal (S) surged ahead of their rivals in 58 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading in Varanasi by a margin of 1.22 lakh votes, according to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/">Election Commission trends</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The BJP was ahead in 57 seats and Apna Dal (S) in one seat. The opposition alliance of the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party appeared to be performing well in 20 seats.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Modi was leading by more than 1.22 lakh votes in Varanasi over his nearest SP rival Shalini Yadav.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Congress president Rahul Gandhi was trailing in Amethi seat where Union minister and BJP's strong contender Smriti Irani marched ahead by over 5,000 votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-election-result-2019-foreign-media-reacts-as-vote-count-shows-an-outright-majority-for-bjp-220859">Foreign media reacts to vote count as results point to big victory for PM Modi</a></strong></p>

<p>SP chief Akhilesh Yadav was leading by over 13,000 votes in Azamgarh, while his father and SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav was ahead by nearly 12,000 votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Mayawati's BSP was ahead in 12 seats, Akhilesh's SP was leading in eight seats.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Congress, on the other hand, was leading on only one seat - Rae Bareli, where UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was ahead of Dinesh Pratap Singh of the BJP by over 20,000 votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-election-results-2019-sunny-deol-hema-malini-leading-in-gurdaspur-mathura-220860">Lok Sabha election results 2019: Sunny Deol, Hema Malini leading</a></strong></p>

<p>SP stalwart Azam Khan was leading in Rampur by over 18,000 votes over BJP contender Jaya Prada, who switched sides from the SP to join the saffron party just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kunwar Danish Ali, who joined the BSP after leaving the JD(S) was leading by a handsome margin of over 22,000 votes in Amroha.<br />
BJP state unit chief Mahendra Nath Pandey was leading by more than 12,000 votes in Chadauli from where he is seeking re-election.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On the other hand, state Congress chief Raj Babbar was trailing behind his nearest BJP rival Rajkumar Chahar in Fatehpur Sikri.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>While Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Santosh Gangwar were leading in their respective seats Lucknow and Bareily, another Union minister Manoj Sinha was trailing in Ghazipur where mafia-turned-politician Afzal Ansari of the BSP was leading by over 3,000 votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After leading initially in Sultanpur, Union minister Maneka Gandhi suffered reverses and was trailing by 900 votes as counting progressed.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>In Gorakhpur and Phulpur, where the opposition had unseated the BJP in bypolls, the saffron party appeared to be taking a sweet revenge by leading at both the places.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kairana was, however, an exception where sitting Samajwadi Party MP Tabassum Begum was maintaining a lead over the BJP, which had lost in a bypoll to Begum, who was then fielded jointly by the opposition.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sitting MP and BJP candidate Hema Malini leading by 22,893 votes against nearest rival and SP-BSP-RLD alliance candidate Kunwar Narendra Singh in Mathura.</p>


The BJP and its ally Apna Dal (S) surged ahead of their rivals in 58 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading in Varanasi by a margin of 1.

The BJP and its ally Apna Dal (S) surged ahead of their rivals in 58 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading in Varanasi by a margin of 1.22 lakh votes, according to Election Commission trends. The BJP was ahead in 57 seats and Apna Dal (S) in one seat. The opposition alliance of the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party appeared to be performing well in 20 seats. Modi was leading by more than 1.22 lakh votes in Varanasi over his nearest SP rival Shalini Yadav. Congress president Rahul Gandhi was trailing in Amethi seat where Union minister and BJP's strong contender Smriti Irani marched ahead by over 5,000 votes. Also Read: Foreign media reacts to vote count as results point to big victory for PM Modi SP chief Akhilesh Yadav was leading by over 13,000 votes in Azamgarh, while his father and SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav was ahead by nearly 12,000 votes. While Mayawati's BSP was ahead in 12 seats, Akhilesh's SP was leading in eight seats. The Congress, on the other hand, was leading on only one seat - Rae Bareli, where UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was ahead of Dinesh Pratap Singh of the BJP by over 20,000 votes. Also Read: Lok Sabha election results 2019: Sunny Deol, Hema Malini leading SP stalwart Azam Khan was leading in Rampur by over 18,000 votes over BJP contender Jaya Prada, who switched sides from the SP to join the saffron party just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Kunwar Danish Ali, who joined the BSP after leaving the JD(S) was leading by a handsome margin of over 22,000 votes in Amroha. BJP state unit chief Mahendra Nath Pandey was leading by more than 12,000 votes in Chadauli from where he is seeking re-election. On the other hand, state Congress chief Raj Babbar was trailing behind his nearest BJP rival Rajkumar Chahar in Fatehpur Sikri. × While Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Santosh Gangwar were leading in their respective seats Lucknow and Bareily, another Union minister Manoj Sinha was trailing in Ghazipur where mafia-turned-politician Afzal Ansari of the BSP was leading by over 3,000 votes. After leading initially in Sultanpur, Union minister Maneka Gandhi suffered reverses and was trailing by 900 votes as counting progressed. × In Gorakhpur and Phulpur, where the opposition had unseated the BJP in bypolls, the saffron party appeared to be taking a sweet revenge by leading at both the places. Kairana was, however, an exception where sitting Samajwadi Party MP Tabassum Begum was maintaining a lead over the BJP, which had lost in a bypoll to Begum, who was then fielded jointly by the opposition. Sitting MP and BJP candidate Hema Malini leading by 22,893 votes against nearest rival and SP-BSP-RLD alliance candidate Kunwar Narendra Singh in Mathura.

BJP ahead in 57 seats in UP; Modi leading in Varanasi, Rahul trails in Amethi

<p>The CPI Thursday said BJP's poll narrative centred on nationalism worked for the party in a big way in the Lok Sabha elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I think it looks like nationalism worked for them in northern states and Karnataka," CPI General Secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy told PTI commenting on the Lok Sabha poll outcome.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Nationalism worked (for the BJP)... Points raised by opposition unemployment, price rise, and ommissions and commissions of the BJP did not stand before the nationalism, particularly northern states," he said.</p>

<p>Reddy said lack of electoral understanding between the Left parties and the Congress helped the BJP make big gains in West Bengal.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/">Click here</a> to get the live updates of Lok Sabha 2019 election results</strong></p>

<p>"There was polarisation between Trinamool and the BJP, as there was no understanding between the Congress and the Left. The 'friends' behind the Left who wanted to defeat the Trinamool went towards the BJP", he said.</p>

<p>Asked if he thought the Left and the Congress should have fought the elections together in West Bengal, he said: "Yes, there would have been some confidence in the ranks".</p>

<p>"Sabarimala undercurrent" helped the UDF electorally in Kerala, where Rahul Gandhi contesting from Wayanad also consolidated the minority votes behind the Congress, he added.</p>


The CPI Thursday said BJP's poll narrative centred on nationalism worked for the party in a big way in the Lok Sabha elections. "I think it looks like nationalism worked for them in northern states and Karnataka," CPI General Secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy told PTI commenting on the Lok Sabha poll outcome.

The CPI Thursday said BJP's poll narrative centred on nationalism worked for the party in a big way in the Lok Sabha elections. "I think it looks like nationalism worked for them in northern states and Karnataka," CPI General Secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy told PTI commenting on the Lok Sabha poll outcome. "Nationalism worked (for the BJP)... Points raised by opposition unemployment, price rise, and ommissions and commissions of the BJP did not stand before the nationalism, particularly northern states," he said. Reddy said lack of electoral understanding between the Left parties and the Congress helped the BJP make big gains in West Bengal. Click here to get the live updates of Lok Sabha 2019 election results "There was polarisation between Trinamool and the BJP, as there was no understanding between the Congress and the Left. The 'friends' behind the Left who wanted to defeat the Trinamool went towards the BJP", he said. Asked if he thought the Left and the Congress should have fought the elections together in West Bengal, he said: "Yes, there would have been some confidence in the ranks". "Sabarimala undercurrent" helped the UDF electorally in Kerala, where Rahul Gandhi contesting from Wayanad also consolidated the minority votes behind the Congress, he added.

Nationalism narrative played big part in BJP win: CPI

<p>Proving exit polls right, the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday appeared set to retain power as its candidates alone led in 294 of the 541 Lok Sabha seats with its allies faring equally well across the country, stunning the opposition.</p>

<p>As per the latest trends issued by Election Commission BJP and&nbsp;JD(U) both parties are leading on 16 seats each.Ram Vilas Paswan Lok Janshakti Party is leading on 6 parliamentary seats.</p>

<p>Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal is ahead on two seats.</p>

<p>Among the 40 constituencies, Nalanda, Begusarai and Arrah comprise seven assembly segments each while the remaining 37 have six Vidhan Sabha segments.</p>

<p>Among the political parties, the BJP and the JD(U) have contested 17 seats each, leaving six for NDA ally LJP.</p>

<p>In the opposition Mahagathbandhan, the RJD has contested 19 seats giving up Arrah from its quota for the CPI (ML), followed by Congress (09), RLSP (05), HAM (03) and VIP (03).&nbsp;</p>


Proving exit polls right, the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday appeared set to retain power as its candidates alone led in 294 of the 541 Lok Sabha seats with its allies faring equally well across the country, stunning the opposition.

Proving exit polls right, the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday appeared set to retain power as its candidates alone led in 294 of the 541 Lok Sabha seats with its allies faring equally well across the country, stunning the opposition. As per the latest trends issued by Election Commission BJP and JD(U) both parties are leading on 16 seats each.Ram Vilas Paswan Lok Janshakti Party is leading on 6 parliamentary seats. Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal is ahead on two seats. Among the 40 constituencies, Nalanda, Begusarai and Arrah comprise seven assembly segments each while the remaining 37 have six Vidhan Sabha segments. Among the political parties, the BJP and the JD(U) have contested 17 seats each, leaving six for NDA ally LJP. In the opposition Mahagathbandhan, the RJD has contested 19 seats giving up Arrah from its quota for the CPI (ML), followed by Congress (09), RLSP (05), HAM (03) and VIP (03).

NDA leads on 38 out of 40 seats in Bihar as Modi guns for second term

<p>The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/bjp-surges-ahead-with-319-seats-in-early-trends-congress-trails-far-behind-with-105-220814">BJP appeared set for a resounding comeback</a> on Thursday with leads in 328 seats while the Congress trailed far behind with 101, as the counting of the votes polled in India's 17 Lok Sabha election was underway.</p>

<p>The elections were also closely followed by foreign media as the trends came in, pointing to another tenure of Narendra Modi as prime minister.</p>

<p>While reporting on BJP heading for an outright majority, The New York Times called PM Modi "one of the most powerful leaders" India has produced. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The win would be a far more dominating performance than many analysts had thought possible a few months ago," The New York Times said.</p>

<p>"Modi is viewed as good for business. He has simplified the tax system and cut down on corruption, and one of the signature achievements of his term was an overhaul of the country’s corporate bankruptcy system," it added.</p>

<p>"PM Modi led National Democratic Alliance's predicted margin of victory is much larger than surveys indicated in the run-up to the vote, when most polls showed it would be the largest alliance but would fall short of an overall majority," news agency Reuters said in its report.</p>

<p>"Although the BJP looks set to lose some seats in Uttar Pradesh, where two rival opposition parties have united to defeat it,&nbsp;Modi’s party looks likely to able to compensate for those losses, by making strong inroads into the states of West Bengal and Odisha, where it previously had limited support,"&nbsp;Financial Times stated in its report.</p>

<p>The counting exercise is on in over 4,000 counting centres amid concerns raised by opposition parties over alleged tampering of EVMs. They have asked the Election Commission to ensure transparency in counting. Final result declaration is expected only by late evening.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The initial trends by the Election Commission of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/election-results-to-be-in-consonance-with-exit-polls-outcome-arun-jaitley-220128">ruling party's leads were in sync with the exit polls</a>, most of which predicted that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would be on course to retain power for a second term.</p>

<p>In 2014, the BJP won 282 seats, leaving the Congress with an all-time low of 44 seats against the 206 it won in 2009.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Impact of early election trends on the Indian markets</strong></p>

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The BJP appeared set for a resounding comeback on Thursday with leads in 328 seats while the Congress trailed far behind with 101, as the counting of the votes polled in India's 17 Lok Sabha election was underway.

The BJP appeared set for a resounding comeback on Thursday with leads in 328 seats while the Congress trailed far behind with 101, as the counting of the votes polled in India's 17 Lok Sabha election was underway. The elections were also closely followed by foreign media as the trends came in, pointing to another tenure of Narendra Modi as prime minister. While reporting on BJP heading for an outright majority, The New York Times called PM Modi "one of the most powerful leaders" India has produced. "The win would be a far more dominating performance than many analysts had thought possible a few months ago," The New York Times said. "Modi is viewed as good for business. He has simplified the tax system and cut down on corruption, and one of the signature achievements of his term was an overhaul of the country’s corporate bankruptcy system," it added. "PM Modi led National Democratic Alliance's predicted margin of victory is much larger than surveys indicated in the run-up to the vote, when most polls showed it would be the largest alliance but would fall short of an overall majority," news agency Reuters said in its report. "Although the BJP looks set to lose some seats in Uttar Pradesh, where two rival opposition parties have united to defeat it, Modi’s party looks likely to able to compensate for those losses, by making strong inroads into the states of West Bengal and Odisha, where it previously had limited support," Financial Times stated in its report. The counting exercise is on in over 4,000 counting centres amid concerns raised by opposition parties over alleged tampering of EVMs. They have asked the Election Commission to ensure transparency in counting. Final result declaration is expected only by late evening. The initial trends by the Election Commission of the ruling party's leads were in sync with the exit polls, most of which predicted that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would be on course to retain power for a second term. In 2014, the BJP won 282 seats, leaving the Congress with an all-time low of 44 seats against the 206 it won in 2009. Watch: Impact of early election trends on the Indian markets ×

Lok Sabha election result 2019: Foreign media reacts to vote count as results point to a big victory for PM Modi

<p>Known for their films, actors Hema Malini and Sunny Deol also seem to have got people's consensus in politics.&nbsp;Hema Malini, who is the incumbent candidate from Mathura has been leading with 130754 votes so far. Kunwar Narendra Singh of Rashtriya Lok Dal is trailing 64961 votes. The Congress has fielded Mahesh Pathak, an industrialist who contested from Mathura in 1998 and lost. The actress has been leading from the morning itself.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mathura, one of the 80 seats in UP, voted in the second phase of national elections.</p>

<p>Hema Malini, whose election campaign got a boost when her actor-husband Dharmendra campaigned for her, insisted that she herself had done a lot of work in the past five years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Dharmendra's son Sunny Deol, who makes his debut in politics this election season is contesting on a BJP ticket from Gurdaspur, Punjab. Trends in the afternoon indicated Deol was leading with over 2.5 lakh votes. Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar is close behind with 2 lakh votes as of now.&nbsp;</p>


Known for their films, actors Hema Malini and Sunny Deol also seem to have got people's consensus in politics. Hema Malini, who is the incumbent candidate from Mathura has been leading with 130754 votes so far.

Known for their films, actors Hema Malini and Sunny Deol also seem to have got people's consensus in politics. Hema Malini, who is the incumbent candidate from Mathura has been leading with 130754 votes so far. Kunwar Narendra Singh of Rashtriya Lok Dal is trailing 64961 votes. The Congress has fielded Mahesh Pathak, an industrialist who contested from Mathura in 1998 and lost. The actress has been leading from the morning itself. Mathura, one of the 80 seats in UP, voted in the second phase of national elections. Hema Malini, whose election campaign got a boost when her actor-husband Dharmendra campaigned for her, insisted that she herself had done a lot of work in the past five years. Meanwhile, Dharmendra's son Sunny Deol, who makes his debut in politics this election season is contesting on a BJP ticket from Gurdaspur, Punjab. Trends in the afternoon indicated Deol was leading with over 2.5 lakh votes. Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar is close behind with 2 lakh votes as of now.

Lok Sabha election results 2019: Sunny Deol, Hema Malini leading in Gurdaspur, Mathura

<p>As counting of the ballot for 542 Lok Sabha seats for the world's largest democracy is underway, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on his way to be the first non-Congress prime minister to return to power.</p>

<p>Riding on a massive Modi wave sweeping through most parts of India, the BJP was set to return to power Thursday as it led in 292 seats while the Congress trailed far behind with 51, according to trends released by the Election Commission for all 542 seats that went to polls.</p>

<p>If the trends stay until final results, the BJP would have improved on its 2014 performance when it had won 282 seats on its own in the 543-member Lok Sabha. Adding the seats won by its allies, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance could win 343 seats, up from 336 in 2014.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the latest trends from the Election Commission of India, the BJP alone is leading on 269 seats. The Congress is ahead on 56 seats.</p>


As counting of the ballot for 542 Lok Sabha seats for the world's largest democracy is underway, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on his way to be the first non-Congress prime minister to return to power.

As counting of the ballot for 542 Lok Sabha seats for the world's largest democracy is underway, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on his way to be the first non-Congress prime minister to return to power. Riding on a massive Modi wave sweeping through most parts of India, the BJP was set to return to power Thursday as it led in 292 seats while the Congress trailed far behind with 51, according to trends released by the Election Commission for all 542 seats that went to polls. If the trends stay until final results, the BJP would have improved on its 2014 performance when it had won 282 seats on its own in the 543-member Lok Sabha. Adding the seats won by its allies, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance could win 343 seats, up from 336 in 2014. As per the latest trends from the Election Commission of India, the BJP alone is leading on 269 seats. The Congress is ahead on 56 seats.

Narendra Modi to become first non-Congress PM to return to power 

<p>The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/bjp-surges-ahead-with-319-seats-in-early-trends-congress-trails-far-behind-with-105-220814">BJP was ahead</a> in 28 of the 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh while the Congress was leading in one seat, as per trends available so far.</p>

<p>BJP's Pragya Singh Thakur was leading over Congress' Digvijay Singh by 44,222 votes in Bhopal, while Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia was trailing by 18,456 votes in his traditional Guna seat against BJP's K P Yadav.</p>

<p>Congress candidate Nakul Nath, son of Chief Minister Kamal Nath, was ahead of BJP's Nathanshah Kawreti in Chhindwara seat by a margin of 17,262 votes.</p>

<p>In Rajgarh seat, Congress' Mona Sustani was trailing by 1,08,775 votes against sitting BJP MP Rodmal Nagar.&nbsp;See fore more updates: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-election-results-2019-live-updates-220687">BJP takes early lead, holds on to Hindi heartland</a></p>

<p>In Morena, Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar was leading by 14,252 votes over Congress' Ramniwas Rawat.</p>

<p>Another Union minister Virendra Singh was also leading in Tikamgarh over Congress' Kiran Ahirwar by 94,115 votes.</p>

<p>In Indore, BJP nominee Shankar Lalwani was ahead by 1,42,269 votes against Congress' Pankaj Sanghvi.</p>

<p>Similarly, BJP's Vishnu Dutt Sharma was leading by 1,06,414 votes over Congress Kavita Singh in Khajuraho seat.</p>

<p>In Khandwa, former Union minister Arun Yadav was trailing by a margin of 79,394 votes against sitting BJP MP Nandkumar Singh Chauhan.</p>

<p>Another ex-Union minister and sitting Congress MP Kantilal Bhuria was also trailing by 64,604 votes against BJP's Guman Singh Damor in Ratlam-Jhabua seat.</p>

<p>Senior Congress leader and former leader of opposition Ajay Singh was also behind by 42,728 votes against sitting BJP MP Riti Pathak in Sidhi.</p>

<p>In Jabalpur, BJP state president and sitting MP Rakesh Singh was leading by 72,191 votes over Congress Vivek Krishna Tankha.</p>

<p>In Mandla, BJP MP and former Union minister Faggan Singh Kulaste was ahead by 8,394 votes over Congress Kamal Singh Marawi.</p>

<p>In the Chhindwara Assembly by-poll, Kamal Nath was leading by 6,807 votes over BJP's Vivek Bunty Sahu.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;BJP+ well on course to sweep the polls</strong></p>

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The BJP was ahead in 28 of the 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh while the Congress was leading in one seat, as per trends available so far. BJP's Pragya Singh Thakur was leading over Congress' Digvijay Singh by 44,222 votes in Bhopal, while Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia was trailing by 18,456 votes in his traditional Guna seat against BJP's K P Yadav.

The BJP was ahead in 28 of the 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh while the Congress was leading in one seat, as per trends available so far. BJP's Pragya Singh Thakur was leading over Congress' Digvijay Singh by 44,222 votes in Bhopal, while Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia was trailing by 18,456 votes in his traditional Guna seat against BJP's K P Yadav. Congress candidate Nakul Nath, son of Chief Minister Kamal Nath, was ahead of BJP's Nathanshah Kawreti in Chhindwara seat by a margin of 17,262 votes. In Rajgarh seat, Congress' Mona Sustani was trailing by 1,08,775 votes against sitting BJP MP Rodmal Nagar. See fore more updates: BJP takes early lead, holds on to Hindi heartland In Morena, Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar was leading by 14,252 votes over Congress' Ramniwas Rawat. Another Union minister Virendra Singh was also leading in Tikamgarh over Congress' Kiran Ahirwar by 94,115 votes. In Indore, BJP nominee Shankar Lalwani was ahead by 1,42,269 votes against Congress' Pankaj Sanghvi. Similarly, BJP's Vishnu Dutt Sharma was leading by 1,06,414 votes over Congress Kavita Singh in Khajuraho seat. In Khandwa, former Union minister Arun Yadav was trailing by a margin of 79,394 votes against sitting BJP MP Nandkumar Singh Chauhan. Another ex-Union minister and sitting Congress MP Kantilal Bhuria was also trailing by 64,604 votes against BJP's Guman Singh Damor in Ratlam-Jhabua seat. Senior Congress leader and former leader of opposition Ajay Singh was also behind by 42,728 votes against sitting BJP MP Riti Pathak in Sidhi. In Jabalpur, BJP state president and sitting MP Rakesh Singh was leading by 72,191 votes over Congress Vivek Krishna Tankha. In Mandla, BJP MP and former Union minister Faggan Singh Kulaste was ahead by 8,394 votes over Congress Kamal Singh Marawi. In the Chhindwara Assembly by-poll, Kamal Nath was leading by 6,807 votes over BJP's Vivek Bunty Sahu. Watch: BJP+ well on course to sweep the polls ×

Lok Sabha election results 2019: BJP leading with 28 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh

<p>The former Indian cricketer and Lok Sabha&nbsp;contesting candidate Gautam Gambhir took a dig at opposition candidates as the counting of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/">Lok Sabha 2019 polls</a> was underway.</p>

<p>The Bhartiya Janta Party candidate Gambhir contested the election from East Delhi against Arvinder Singh Lovely of Congress and Atishi Marlena Aam Admi Party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Currently, he is leading and likely to win.&nbsp;Gambhir thanked the party and&nbsp;promised that the party will not fail the&nbsp;mandate given by voters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On his official Twitter handle, Gambhir wrote, "Neither it’s a ‘Lovely’ cover drive and nor it is an ‘<em>आतिशी’ बल्लेबाज़ी</em>। It’s just the BJP’s ‘<em>गंभीर</em>’ ideology which people have supported. Thanks a lot to all the @BJP4India and @BJP4Delhi team-mates for getting this mandate. We won’t fail people’s choice."</p>

<p>In another tweet, he wrote in Hindi that&nbsp;translated as, "In this election, Arvind Kejriwal has lost his principles and will lose the Delhi elections as well. Lotus will continue to bloom amid the chaos created by AAP."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">इस चुनाव में अरविंद केजरीवाल ने अपना ज़मीर और ईमान खोया है, 8 महीने में अपनी सत्ता खोएगा ! जितना कीचड़ AAP ने दिल्ली में फैलाया है, उतना ही ‘कमल’ दिल्ली में खिलेगा !!</p>
— Chowkidar Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) <a href="https://twitter.com/GautamGambhir/status/1131514379109687298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Confident of emerging victorious on all the 7 seats in Delhi with five of its candidates breaking records in terms of leading with the highest margin ever, the BJP continued to dominate the trends while the Congress and AAP trailed at the second spot in five and two constituencies respectively.</p>

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<p>"The counting is going on smoothly in all the seven counting centres. Till now we have not received any complaints or any information of disturbance at the counting centres. Also the law and order situation is normal in the city," Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh said.&nbsp;</p>


The former Indian cricketer and Lok Sabha contesting candidate Gautam Gambhir took a dig at opposition candidates as the counting of Lok Sabha 2019 polls was underway.

The former Indian cricketer and Lok Sabha contesting candidate Gautam Gambhir took a dig at opposition candidates as the counting of Lok Sabha 2019 polls was underway. The Bhartiya Janta Party candidate Gambhir contested the election from East Delhi against Arvinder Singh Lovely of Congress and Atishi Marlena Aam Admi Party. Currently, he is leading and likely to win. Gambhir thanked the party and promised that the party will not fail the mandate given by voters. On his official Twitter handle, Gambhir wrote, "Neither it’s a ‘Lovely’ cover drive and nor it is an ‘आतिशी’ बल्लेबाज़ी। It’s just the BJP’s ‘गंभीर’ ideology which people have supported. Thanks a lot to all the @BJP4India and @BJP4Delhi team-mates for getting this mandate. We won’t fail people’s choice." In another tweet, he wrote in Hindi that translated as, "In this election, Arvind Kejriwal has lost his principles and will lose the Delhi elections as well. Lotus will continue to bloom amid the chaos created by AAP." इस चुनाव में अरविंद केजरीवाल ने अपना ज़मीर और ईमान खोया है, 8 महीने में अपनी सत्ता खोएगा ! जितना कीचड़ AAP ने दिल्ली में फैलाया है, उतना ही ‘कमल’ दिल्ली में खिलेगा !! — Chowkidar Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) May 23, 2019 × Confident of emerging victorious on all the 7 seats in Delhi with five of its candidates breaking records in terms of leading with the highest margin ever, the BJP continued to dominate the trends while the Congress and AAP trailed at the second spot in five and two constituencies respectively. × "The counting is going on smoothly in all the seven counting centres. Till now we have not received any complaints or any information of disturbance at the counting centres. Also the law and order situation is normal in the city," Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh said.

'BJP's Gambhir ideology' wins: Cricketer Gautam Gambhir takes a dig at opponents

<p>The counting of votes for Lok Sabha polls is underway across 542 constituencies and as per the early trends, the National Democratic Alliance is leading in majority of the seats.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The news for Congress, however, is not good as many notable names are trailing. In Madhya Pradesh, Congress candidate&nbsp;Nakul Nath is leading the race for the Chhindwara constituency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But Digvijaya Singh, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kantilal Bhuria, Arun Yadav and Meenakshi Natarajan are trailing from their respective Lok Sabha seats.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-election-results-2019-live-updates-220687">Click here</a> to get the live updates.&nbsp;</strong></em></p>

<p>At the end of the second round of counting, Nakul Nath was ahead of his BJP rival Nathansaha Kawreti from the Chhindwara parliamentary constituency by 5,000 votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In Haryana, BJP was leading in all the 10 seats in Haryana as per early trends available with the Election Commission.</p>

<p>Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda of the Congress was trailing in Sonipat.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Hooda, a sitting MLA from Rohtak district who contested the Lok Sabha polls after a gap of 14 years, was trailing behind sitting MP Ramesh Chander Kaushik.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The former CM's son and sitting MP from Rohtak Deepender Singh Hooda, who was earlier leading over his nearest BJP rival Arvind Sharma from Rohtak, was trailing in later rounds of counting.&nbsp;</p>


The counting of votes for Lok Sabha polls is underway across 542 constituencies and as per the early trends, the National Democratic Alliance is leading in majority of the seats.

The counting of votes for Lok Sabha polls is underway across 542 constituencies and as per the early trends, the National Democratic Alliance is leading in majority of the seats. The news for Congress, however, is not good as many notable names are trailing. In Madhya Pradesh, Congress candidate Nakul Nath is leading the race for the Chhindwara constituency. But Digvijaya Singh, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kantilal Bhuria, Arun Yadav and Meenakshi Natarajan are trailing from their respective Lok Sabha seats. Click here to get the live updates. At the end of the second round of counting, Nakul Nath was ahead of his BJP rival Nathansaha Kawreti from the Chhindwara parliamentary constituency by 5,000 votes. In Haryana, BJP was leading in all the 10 seats in Haryana as per early trends available with the Election Commission. Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda of the Congress was trailing in Sonipat. × Hooda, a sitting MLA from Rohtak district who contested the Lok Sabha polls after a gap of 14 years, was trailing behind sitting MP Ramesh Chander Kaushik. The former CM's son and sitting MP from Rohtak Deepender Singh Hooda, who was earlier leading over his nearest BJP rival Arvind Sharma from Rohtak, was trailing in later rounds of counting.

Lok Sabha election results 2019: Congress heavyweights trail in Madya Pradesh and Haryana