During the NDA meeting convened today to elect Narendra Modi as the leader of the Lok Sabha, discussions revolved around the outcomes of the recent elections, particularly in the Southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Telangana.
The Lok Sabha election results of 2024 did not entirely align with the BJP's and Narendra Modi's expectations, marked notably by the party's setbacks in states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Maharashtra. However, despite these losses, the BJP-led NDA managed to secure victories in Southern states such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana. While Tamil Nadu didn't yield any seats for the BJP, the party did make inroads in Kerala, thereby challenging the perception of a North-South political divide and dispelling notions of the BJP as an outsider in Southern politics.
Addressing the NDA members and Chief Ministers from NDA-affiliated states during the meeting, Modi reflected on the election results, emphasizing the NDA's role in reshaping political landscapes in South India.
"Consider Karnataka and Telangana, where recent state governments were established. However, the people's confidence wavered swiftly, dispelling any illusions. They embraced the NDA in Karnataka and Telangana. My commendations go to the team in Tamil Nadu. While it was anticipated that we may not secure any seats there, our unity in the fray was evident... Although we didn't clinch any seats in Tamil Nadu, the remarkable surge in NDA's vote share signals promising prospects for us in the state... In Kerala, numerous party workers made sacrifices... For the first time, we've secured representation from Kerala," Modi remarked.
In Tamil Nadu, the BJP's campaign was spearheaded by former IPS officer and state-party chief K. Annamalai. Under his assertive leadership, the BJP notably increased its vote share from 3.58% in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections to 11% in this year's polls. Meanwhile, in Kerala, the BJP achieved a significant milestone as actor-turned-politician Sures Gopi secured the Thrissur seat with a margin exceeding 74,000 votes, marking the party's first-ever win in the state dominated by the Left and Congress.
In Andhra Pradesh, the BJP formed an alliance with Chandrababu Naidu's TDP and Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena, resulting in the NDA winning 21 out of the 25 Lok Sabha seats. In Karnataka, the BJP joined forces with the JDS and secured 19 out of the 28 Lok Sabha seats. Similarly, in Telangana, the BJP secured 8 out of the 17 Lok Sabha seats, further consolidating its presence in the region.