On Friday, in the Central Hall of Parliament, Narendra Modi was unanimously elected as the leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Addressing the meeting after being chosen as the parliamentary party leader, Prime Minister Modi spoke not only of the coalition's achievements over the past decade but also took the opportunity to sharply criticise the opposition.
On the day of the election results, as calls began to pour in, I was absorbed in work. I inquired - the figures may be alright, but tell me, has the EVM survived, or has it perished? Because the opposition had resolved to erode the public's faith in India's democracy and its democratic processes through consistent vilification of EVMs.
Cornering the opposition over EVMs
It seemed to me that they would take EVMs out in a funeral procession this time. However, by the evening of June 4th, they were silenced by their own locks. The EVMs shut them up. This is the strength of Indian democracy. I hope not to hear any lament about EVMs for the next five years. But when we approach the 2029 elections, perhaps they will cry over EVMs again. The country will never forgive them.
I observe that the INDI alliance, which was already sinking, is now rapidly descending deeper. Colleagues, those in the INDI alliance fail to understand the ordinary citizens of the nation. Their conduct following June 4th leaves much to be desired. They're from the camp that once disrespected their own party's prime minister and tore apart their decisions. When foreign dignitaries arrived, they lacked even basic hospitality.
We know how to digest victory
In his iconic style, Modi praised Pavan Kalyan, stating that what we're witnessing is not a breeze, but a storm. He continued by saying that the NDA government will aim to reduce governmental interference in people's lives to a minimum over the next ten years. This is the essence of a strong democracy. In today's technological era, we seek change. We shall write a new chapter on development, good governance, and build a prosperous India.
We were not defeated then, nor are we now. Our conduct after June 4th demonstrates that we know how to assimilate victory. It doesn't lead to euphoria in times of success. Nor do we mock defeat. These are our values. Even a decade later, the Congress hasn't been able to reach the 100-seat mark. If I combine the elections of 2014, 2019, and 2024, we've received more seats in this single election than they did in all three combined.
It is worth noting that this will be the third NDA government in the country. The NDA has won 293 seats. The breakdown is BJP with 240, TDP with 16, JD(U) with 12, Shiv Sena with 7, LJP (Ram Vilas) with 5. JD(S), RLD, JSP each received two seats. Apna Dal (S), AGP, AJSUP, HAM(S), NCP, SKM, UPPL each received one seat. The opposition India Block won 234 seats. In the 543-member house, a majority requires at least 272 members.