LS Elections: It’s The Moral, Political, Personal Defeat For Modi, Says Congress

On Saturday, June 8, the Congress claimed that the mandate of the Lok Sabha polls has been a “moral, political and personal” defeat for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It said that efforts are now being made to justify his “pathetic” electoral performance.

In the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls, the BJP has won 240 seats, falling short of the halfway mark in the 543-member House. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has together won 293 seats. The Congress has won 99 seats.

Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary, has said that the drumbeat to find silver linings in the mandate — that has been a “moral, political and personal” defeat for PM Modi — has started.

The Congress leader said, “It is being propagated that Mr Narendra Modi is the first to receive a mandate thrice in a row after Jawaharlal Nehru. How leading a party to 240 seats and becoming a ‘one-third’ Pradhan Mantri is a mandate is not explained.”

Ramesh said further, “Nehru, on the other hand, got 364 seats in 1952, 371 seats in 1957, and 361 seats in 1962 – a 2/3rd majority each time. Yet he remained a complete democrat, nurturing Parliament so very carefully with his constant presence.”

Also, Modi is not the only man since Nehru to be sworn in thrice — in a row or not — Ramesh said, pointing out that Atal Bihari Vajpayee was sworn in thrice in 1996, 1998 and 1999.

Indira Gandhi was sworn in 4 times — in 1966, 1967, 1971 and 1980, Ramesh said, adding, “The drumbeaters will look for anything to justify Mr Narendra Modi’s pathetic electoral performance in 2024.”