Political Parties

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the world’s largest democratic exercise with 96.88 crore Indians eligible to vote, are underway, with polling for two out of seven phases already done (April 19 and 26). Voting will also be held on May 7, 13, 20, 25, and June 1. The counting of votes for all 543 Lok Sabha seats, will take place on June 4.

What is at stake? Who are contesting?

The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is up against the opposition INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance). The NDA is seeking a third consecutive term at the Centre, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a hat-trick of wins to the country’s top post.

Bharatiya Janata Party: The nation’s ruling party since 2014, the BJP is by far the largest constituent of the NDA. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP, under its then PM candidate Narendra Modi, won 282 seats on its own, becoming the first party since 1984 to attain single-party majority. In 2019, the BJP increased its tally to 303.

Congress: The grand old party has governed India for more than 50 years post-Independence, and was last in power at the Centre from 2004 to 2014, when it led the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. However, the INDIA bloc leader won only 44 and 52 seats in 2014 and 2019, respectively.

Trinamool Congress: West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool is a member of the opposition alliance, but is contesting all 42 constituencies in the state, and is up against fellow INDIA members Congress and Left.

Samajwadi Party: Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s party is contesting 63 out of 80 seats in the country’s most populous state. The remaining 17 seats have gone to the Congress.

Aam Aadmi Party: Led by jailed Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP is contesting with the Congress in Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Goa, and Chandigarh, but the two sides are up against each other in Punjab.

Janata Dal (United): The JD(U) rejoined the NDA in January after yet another ‘U-turn’ by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. It will field candidates on 16 of the state’s 40 constituencies.

Shiv Sena: The Sena is now split into two factions, with one headed by Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena: Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the other by Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde, recognised by the Election Commission as the ‘real’ Shiv Sena. While Thackeray is an INDIA ally, Shinde is with the NDA.

Nationalist Congress Party: The NCP, too, now stands divided into two factions: NCP (Sharad Chandra Pawar) and the ‘real’ NCP, headed by Pawar’s nephew, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. The Sharad camp is an INDIA constituent, and the Ajit group is in the NDA.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam: Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin’s DMK is in the INDIA bloc.

Rashtriya Lok Dal: The RLD was the first party to exit the INDIA bloc, and is now an NDA member.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha: In January, INDIA member JMM’s top leader, Hemant Soren, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate. He stepped down as chief minister while in ED’s custody, minutes before his formal arrest.

Rashtriya Janata Dal: Also an INDIA constituent, the RJD has fielded candidates on Bihar’s 26 Lok Sabha seats (out of 40).