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On April 26, 2024, voters in 13 states across India will participate in the second phase of the general elections, casting their ballots in 89 Lok Sabha constituencies. This phase previously witnessed an exceptional performance by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2019 general elections, securing 52 seats across the states.
Will the ruling party be able to replicate its success this time?
The second phase of polling encompasses a diverse range of states, including Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Rajasthan, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jammu & Kashmir.
During the second phase of the 2019 general elections, the BJP made significant gains, surpassing the Congress party by a wide margin. The ruling party secured a total of 52 seats across various states, while the Indian National Congress managed only 18 seats.
|
State/UT |
No. of seats |
Constituency |
|
Assam |
5 |
Karimganj, Silchar, Mangaldoi, Nawgong, Kaliabor |
|
Bihar |
5 |
Kishanganj, Katihar, Purnia, Bhagalpur, Banka |
|
Chhattisgarh |
3 |
Rajnandgaon, Mahasamund, Kanker |
|
J&K |
1 |
Jammu |
|
Karnataka |
14 |
Udupi Chikamagalur, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mandya, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South, Chikballapur, Kolar |
|
Kerala |
20 |
Kasaragod, Kannur, Vatakara, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Ponnani, Palakkad, Alathur, Thrissur, Chalakudy, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Mavelikkara, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Attingal, Thiruvananthapuram |
|
Madhya Pradesh |
7 |
Tikamgarh, Damoh, Khajuraho, Satna, Rewa, Hoshangabad, Betul |
|
Maharashtra |
8 |
Buldhana, Akola, Amravati (SC), Wardha, Yavatmal-Washim, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani |
|
Manipur |
1 |
Outer Manipur |
|
Rajasthan |
13 |
Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota, Jhalawar-Baran |
|
Tripura |
1 |
Tripura East |
|
Uttar Pradesh |
8 |
Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, Aligarh, Mathura, Bulandshahr |
|
West Bengal |
3 |
Darjeeling, Raiganj, Balurghat |
The first phase of Lok Sabha elections, covering 102 seats across 21 states and Union Territories, took place on April 19. The overall voter turnout stood at 62.37%, down from 69.43% recorded in 2019, with Tripura registering the highest percentage at 80.17%.
Now, let's explore the contests and data from the second phase of the 2019 general elections, which add intrigue to the upcoming phase.
Key Electoral Contests
The second phase of general elections sees several high-profile constituencies up for contention. Mathura, where veteran actress Hema Malini seeks her third victory, and Meerut, where famous tele series Ramayan actor Arun Govil is BJP's nominee, are among the notable seats.
Purnia in Bihar has gained attention, with Pappu Yadav entering as an independent candidate, challenging sitting JD(U) MP Santosh Kumar Kushwaha.
In the southern region, the Wayanad seat in Kerala promises a tripartite battle featuring Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, CPI's Annie Raja, and BJP Kerala president K Surendran.
Meanwhile, Thiruvananthapuram braces for another intense triangular contest, with incumbent MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor facing challenges from Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and CPI stalwart Pannyan Raveendran.
Analysis of the 2019 Lok Sabha Second Phase
The second phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections witnessed intense competition and surprising outcomes, reflecting shifts in political dynamics across states and Union Territories.
Seat Distribution and Party Performance:
The results showed a mixed bag for various political parties. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the dominant force, securing 52 seats and solidifying its position in states like Bihar, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh. The Indian National Congress (INC) won 18 seats, Shiv Sena secured 4, and smaller regional parties like Janata Dal (United) also clinched 4 seats. In the runners-up category, INC led with 43 seats, followed by BJP with 5 seats, highlighting the intense electoral contests.
Margin of Victory
The elections witnessed close contests, with several seats decided by razor-thin margins. Instances where winning candidates secured victory by just one vote emphasized the importance of each ballot cast. Notably, the 2008 Rajasthan Assembly and Karnataka Assembly Poll in Santhemarahalli (SC) were among such instances.
|
Election Type |
Constituency |
Winning Party |
Votes Obtained |
Runner-up Party |
Votes Obtained |
Margin |
|
Rajasthan Assembly |
Nathdwara (176) |
BJP |
62216 |
INC |
62215 |
1 |
|
Madhya Pradesh Assembly |
Dhar (201) |
BJP |
50510 |
INC |
50509 |
1 |
|
Karnataka Assembly |
Santhemarahalli (119) |
INC |
40752 |
JD(S) |
40751 |
1 |
BJP's Electoral Dominance
The BJP's impressive performance in the second phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections underscored its growing electoral dominance across various states and Union Territories. With victories in states like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, where the party secured over 50% of the votes in numerous constituencies, the BJP showcased its widespread appeal among voters. The party garnered more than 50% of the votes in 224 seats across various states.
|
State/UT |
Seats BJP got 50%+ Votes |
|
Arunachal Pradesh |
2 |
|
Assam |
7 |
|
Bihar |
14 |
|
Goa |
1 |
|
Gujarat |
26 (All) |
|
Haryana |
9 |
|
Himachal Pradesh |
4 |
|
Jammu Kashmir |
2 |
|
Karnataka |
22 |
|
Madhya Pradesh |
25 |
|
Maharashtra |
15 |
|
Punjab |
1 |
|
Rajasthan |
23 |
|
Tripura |
1 |
|
Uttar Pradesh |
40 |
|
West Bengal |
5 |
|
Chattisgarh |
6 |
|
Jharkhand |
8 |
|
Uttrakhand |
5 |
|
Chandigarh |
1 |
|
NCT Delhi |
7 |
| Total | 224 |
Congress’s Struggle
The Congress party faced a tough challenge, failing to secure any seats in thirteen states and union territories in both the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls. This list includes Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, and Gujarat, among others. The party also did not have any Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in five states.
|
State |
Congress MLAs |
Total Assembly Seats |
|
Andhra Pradesh |
0 |
175 |
|
West Bengal |
0 |
294 |
|
NCT Of Delhi |
0 |
70 |
|
Sikkim |
0 |
32 |
|
Nagaland |
0 |
60 |
The Battle Between INC and BJP
In a head-to-head comparison between the INC and BJP, the latter maintained a strong lead with 175 wins out of 190 seats in the 2019 elections, while the INC managed to win only 15 seats. This was a slight improvement for the INC from the 2014 elections, where they won 23 seats out of 189.
|
State/UT |
Congress Seats in 2014 LS Polls |
Congress Seats in 2019 LS Polls |
|
Andhra Pradesh |
0 |
0 |
|
Chandigarh |
0 |
0 |
|
Dadra and Nagar Haveli |
0 |
0 |
|
Daman and Diu |
0 |
0 |
|
Delhi |
0 |
0 |
|
Gujarat |
0 |
0 |
|
Himachal Pradesh |
0 |
0 |
|
Jammu and Kashmir |
0 |
0 |
|
Nagaland |
0 |
0 |
|
Rajasthan |
0 |
0 |
|
Sikkim |
0 |
0 |
|
Tripura |
0 |
0 |
|
Uttarakhand |
0 |
0 |
Voter Turnout
Dhubri – The Constituency with the Highest Voter Turnout
Dhubri Lok Sabha seat in Assam stood out for its remarkable voter turnout in both the 2014 and 2019 elections, with 88.36% and 90.66%, respectively.
During the second phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, there was intense political competition, narrow victory margins, and notable shifts in electoral dynamics. Despite the high voter turnout, the BJP strengthened its position as the predominant political entity. Meanwhile, the Congress party encountered hurdles in various states.