NEW DELHI: Exit polls following the final phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in India signal a continued reign for the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), projecting a potential third consecutive term. The NDA is expected to secure approximately 360 seats, with the opposition INDIA bloc forecasted to win around 150 seats.

The remaining seats are likely to be distributed among neutral parties, including the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC). These projections will be confirmed once the official results are released on June 4.

Initial analyses indicate that the NDA is maintaining its dominance in the northern and western regions of India, while also gaining significant ground in the east and making notable inroads in the southern states. Noteworthy is the forecast that the NDA may surpass the TMC in West Bengal and outdo the BJD in Odisha.

In Bihar, the ruling coalition and its allies are predicted to exceed the 30-seat mark out of a total of 40 seats. Despite these gains, the NDA faces minor setbacks in Maharashtra compared to its 2019 performance. The split between the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has potentially strengthened the INDIA bloc’s presence in the state, though the extent varies among different pollsters.

As the country awaits the official election results, these exit poll projections suggest a continued period of stability and governance under the NDA, with their influence expanding across various regions of India.