Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Major Losers and Winners

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Major Losers and Winners

KAKALI DAS

As the electoral dance is over, let’s look at some of the key contests of 2024!

The Losers

1. Smriti Irani

Union Minister Smriti Irani was defeated in Amethi, a high-profile political battleground in Uttar Pradesh. Irani, who holds key portfolios including Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, lost to Congress candidate Kishori Lal Sharma. Sharma is now famously termed as the ‘giant-killer’ after he defeated Smriti Irani.

Amethi, historically a Congress stronghold, saw Rahul Gandhi’s electoral debut in 2004, with subsequent victories in 2009 and 2014. However, in 2019, Irani’s victory over Gandhi marked a notable shift.

While Gandhi’s personal efforts may not have secured the win, his party has reclaimed Amethi, with Sharma securing victory by a margin exceeding 100,000 votes. May be its time, she should return to her “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi” days…

• Arvind Kejriwal

In 2012, Arvind Kejriwal rose to prominence as one of the most prominent figures in Indian politics, fuelled by extensive media coverage due to his party’s presence in Delhi and adept social media strategies.

However, despite being one of the country’s fastest-growing parties, Kejriwal must be disheartened by the final election results. AAP’s performance in Delhi is disappointing, where they had a seat-sharing arrangement with Congress, while the BJP appears poised to sweep all seven seats.

In Punjab, the AAP has won three seats, a meagre return given their recent landslide victory in the state’s Assembly elections. Despite its promise to revolutionize politics upon its formation, 12 years later, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the party couldn’t stand its ground in the two states.

• Rajeev Chandrasekhar

India’s IT Minister, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, contested from Thiruvananthapuram against Congress leader and three-time MP, Shashi Tharoor. Despite Chandrasekhar’s confidence, the BJP, which had never secured victory in Kerala before, faced a tough battle. Ultimately, after a closely contested election, Tharoor emerged victorious, securing the seat for the fourth consecutive time.

• Prajwal Revanna

Prajwal Revanna of the JDS, the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, was the sitting MP from Hassan in Karnataka. Despite Hassan being considered an easy seat for him, Revanna faced allegations in a sexual abuse scandal involving hundreds of women. Amid the scandal, he reportedly fled the country but has since returned and been arrested. He has also lost his seat in Hassan. Justice served.

• Mehbooba Mufti & Omar Abdullah

The fourth significant setback involves two former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, both of whom were defeated today. Omar Abdullah lost to Sheikh Abdul Rashid, a former MLA currently in jail on a terror funding case.

Meanwhile, Mehbooba Mufti was defeated by Mian Altaf Ahmad, a spiritual leader highly revered in the valley.

• Naveen Patnaik

Naveen Patnaik, the long-standing Chief Minister of Odisha has held power since 2000, marking 24 years in office. However, his reign appears to be reaching its conclusion as the BJP has made significant gains in both Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Odisha. With the BJP emerging as the frontrunner, they are anticipated to form the state government in Odisha.

• Jagan Mohan Reddy

Jagan Mohan Reddy, the chief of the YSR Congress Party and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has faced criticism for the state’s poor financial health and his unpopular policies. His party is trailing in Lok Sabha seats and has lost the assembly election in the state, marking a double setback for Jagan Reddy.

The Winners

1. Chandrababu Naidu

One of the biggest winners in this election is Chandrababu Naidu, chief of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and a former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Naidu has made a remarkable comeback after significant setbacks, including being jailed by the Jagan Reddy government and released in October last year.

In the seven months since his release, he has turned the tables. Naidu formed a crucial alliance with Pawan Kalyan’s Janasena and the BJP. He has won the assembly elections in the state and may now emerge as a kingmaker in the BJP-led NDA, marking a complete reversal of fortunes. At last, we hope that Chandrababu hasn’t forgotten his days in jail… (eyes roll)

• Nitish Kumar

Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar is widely known for his shifting allegiances, Nitish Kumar was a founding member of the opposition alliance, the India Block, just months ago. However, just ahead of the election, he switched sides and joined the NDA. Now, he too has emerged as a kingmaker. We are hopeful, Nitish will perform his duties by being a ‘paltu-ram’ (flip-master) again. (lol)

• Akhilesh Yadav

Uttar Pradesh, the state with 80 Lok Sabha seats is often regarded as the key to power in Delhi. For two terms, the BJP was unbeatable in UP, but this time they faced a significant setback. This turnaround is largely attributed to Akhilesh Yadav, leader of the Samajwadi Party (SP). In alliance with the Congress Party, the SP posed a formidable challenge to the BJP.

• Gaurav Gogoi

The Congress leader and the son of former Chief Minister of Assam, Gaurav Gogoi’s victory at the prestigious Jorhat Lok Sabha seat of Assam is nothing short of miraculous.

Despite facing the full force of the ruling dispensation, led by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who personally campaigned extensively in the constituency alongside ministers, MLAs, and other leaders, Gogoi’s triumph was akin to an epic battle, reminiscent of Abhimanyu’s struggle in the Mahabharata.

Gaurav Gogoi wrested the Jorhat seat from the ruling BJP, defeating Topon Kumar Gogoi with a substantial margin of 144,393 votes, as per the Election Commission. Our Abhimanyu has finally broken the Chakravyuh.

• Kangana Ranaut

The final notable winner on the list is Kangana Ranaut, an actor-turned-politician.

Making her political debut, Ranaut secured victory from Mundi, Himachal Pradesh. She defeated Vikramaditya Singh of the Congress party in her electoral debut. We hope that post her victory, Ms Ranaut won’t claim that Himachal has finally got its independence in 2024! (eyes roll)

• Amritpal Singh (A Disgrace)

An unexpected and startling victory came from Amritpal Singh, a Khalistani separatist who campaigned from prison and clinched the election from Punjab’s Khadoor Sahib seat. This outcome sends a troubling message from the voters. What has the world come to? Sigh!

• NOTA

In a headline-grabbing turn of events, the winner in Indore was NOTA, which stands for “none of the above.” NOTA allows voters to express their rejection of all candidates on the ballot. While NOTA doesn’t directly affect the election outcome, it serves as a symbolic rejection by the voters.

In Indore, over 2 lakh people opted for NOTA. This surge was prompted by a Congress appeal after their candidate defected to the BJP just before the election. Despite NOTA winning, the BJP emerged victorious, underscoring a significant message from the voters that cannot be overlooked.

06-06-2024

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