Tag 2019 general elections

The 2019 Indian general elections were held in several phases from April 11 to May 19, 2019. Here are some key facts and results:

Background:

• The elections were held to elect the 17th Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the 6th term of the President of India.
• The previous government, led by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was in power since 2014.
• The elections were significant as they marked the first general elections after the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the demonetization of high-denomination currency notes.

Key Contenders:

• National Democratic Alliance (NDA): Led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the NDA consisted of several regional parties and smaller parties.
• United Progressive Alliance (UPA): Led by the Indian National Congress (INC), the UPA consisted of several regional parties and smaller parties.
• Third Front: A coalition of regional parties, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), among others.

Results:

• The NDA won a majority of seats, securing 303 seats in the Lok Sabha.
• The UPA won 115 seats, while the Third Front won 52 seats.
• The BJP won 303 seats, becoming the single largest party in the Lok Sabha.
• The INC won 52 seats, its worst performance since 1984.
• The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) won 37 seats, while the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) won 3 seats.

Key Highlights:

• The elections saw a high voter turnout, with over 67% of eligible voters casting their ballots.
• The BJP won a majority of seats in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh.
• The INC won a majority of seats in several states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab.
• The elections were marked by a high level of polarization, with many voters casting their ballots along communal lines.
• The elections also saw a significant increase in the number of women and young candidates contesting elections.

Aftermath:

• Narendra Modi was sworn in as the Prime Minister of India for a second term on May 30, 2019.
• The NDA government was formed with the support of several regional parties and smaller parties.
• The INC and other opposition parties criticized the election results, alleging widespread irregularities and bias in the electoral process.
• The elections were also marked by several controversies, including allegations of EVM tampering and voter suppression.