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India's election results are becoming clearer. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to fall short of the 272-seat mark that signifies a majority in the 543-member Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's Parliament. With its allies, the BJP is still projected to win a majority. The opposition INDIA alliance, led by the Congress party, is projected to win more than 200 seats.
In Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress alliance have made significant gains. The SP is leading in 33 seats, and the Congress in seven others—totaling 40 for the INDIA alliance. The BJP, meanwhile, is leading in 36 seats, with its allies ahead in three other seats. Most stunningly, the BJP is trailing in Faizabad constituency, which is home to the Ram temple in Ayodhya that Modi consecrated in January.
In West Bengal, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) party has held its fort. The BJP might struggle to even replicate its 2019 performance. It is ahead on 12 seats, while the AITC is leading in 29. The Congress is leading in the remaining nine.
In Kerala, the BJP's Suresh Gopi is leading by a wide margin in the Thrissur constituency and could become the BJP's first Lok Sabha parliamentarian from the state.
In Maharashtra, the opposition INDIA alliance is ahead in 27 of the state's 48 seats. The Congress alone is leading in 10 seats, while the BJP is ahead in 14.
In Karnataka, the BJP is still poised to emerge as the biggest winner, leading in 16 seats, with the Janata Dal (Secular) party ahead in two constituencies. But the Congress is leading in 10 constituencies.
The election results are a sign of shifting political dynamics in India. The BJP's dominance is being challenged by a resurgent opposition, led by the Congress party. The results also show that the voters are increasingly dissatisfied with the BJP's policies and are looking for a change.
Source: India election results: Big wins, losses and surprises