The 2024 Lok Sabha Election results have brought to the centerstage the NDA allies, and how crucial their role will be this time in government formation.
The NDA crossed the 272-majority mark on June 4, as per the latest leads by the Election Commission around 7 pm. But the BJP is far from a majority of 239 leads and wins, and will be dependent on allies, especially the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal-United (JD-U).
While Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) was leading or had won 12 seats, the TDP had won 16 Lok Sabha seats, according to the latest EC data.
A look at some of the key NDA allies and their performance and track record.
The BJP lost many of its key allies — the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in 2020 and undivided Shiv Sena in 2019 – after the party under Narendra Modi enjoyed comfortable majority in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
TDP: Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP put up a good show in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, winning in 16 of the total 25 seats in Andhra Pradesh, with allies BJP and Janasena Party ahead in three and two constituencies respectively. In the process, he also has emerged as a possible kingmaker, being the second largest party in the ruling NDA alliance behind the BJP. After being active in student politics, Naidu joined the Congress and went on to become a cabinet minister. However, he later jumped ship to the TDP, founded by his late father-in-law and legendary actor NT Rama Rao. Naidu first became the chief minister in 1995 and went on to have another two terms as CM. During the late 90s, Naidu played a key role in forming the Central government of that time and the first NDA government formed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee was supported from outside by the TDP. In March 2018, the TDP, which was part of the NDA’s first term, snapped ties with the BJP over denial of special category status to Andhra Pradesh. The TDP had also subsequently moved a no-confidence motion against the Modi government and joined hands with the Congress and rest of the Opposition ahead of the 2019 elections. It rejoined the NDA in February this year and while the BJP has suffered severe losses, the TDP has gained massively. With 134 of 175 seats in Andhra Pradesh in its kitty, Naidu is set to play kingmaker. And with leads (or wins) in 16 Lok Sabha seats, reports suggest Naidu and Nitish Kumar will attend Wednesday’s NDA meeting where top leaders of the BJP and its other allies.
JD(U): Nitish Kumar is known for his constant flip-flops. Kumar was the main constituent of the INDIA bloc, and lived to the reputation of “Paltu Ram" of Bihar politics when he made a departure from the alliance and joined the NDA in January. This was the fourth time in the last 11 years that Kumar has switched political sides in Bihar. The JD(U) parted ways with the BJP for the first time in 2013 to join hands with the RJD. In the 2015 assembly election in which the Mahagathbandhan comprising the Congress, RJD, JD(U) and Left parties beat the BJP. He broke ties with the Grand Alliance as he was not able to work with his nemesis Lalu Prasad. He returned to the NDA fold in 2017. In 2019, the BJP-led NDA had won 39 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. He then returned to the Mahagathbandhan in 2022, only to leave it again that year. He then joined the NDA in 2024. With the JD(U) securing 12 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar this time, it is likely that the BJP would need Nitish Kumar’s support for a stable Centre.
LJP (Ram Vilas): Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), an NDA partner, won all five seats it contested in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Ram Vilas’ son and party chief Chirag won from Hajipur. His father Ram Vilas had founded the party and would often switch sides before polls. After being in the NDA during Atal Bihari Vajpayee reign, Ram Vilas rejoined the alliance in February 2014 just months before the election and rode on the ‘Modi wave’. It will be seen how Chirag Paswan will carry forward his father’s legacy.
RLD and JDS: Jayant Chowdhury’s Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) performed well, winning both seats it contested in Uttar Pradesh. The RLD joined hands with the NDA only a few months prior to the polls and fielded candidates from Baghpat and Bijnor seats. The RLD joined the NDA after its founder-patriarch Charan Singh was given the Bharat Ratna. The Janata Dal (Secular) also won two seats it contested in Karnataka.
Shiv Sena and NCP (Ajit Pawar): The BJP and the allies bagged 17 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, which is half than what it secured in 2019. Its ally Shiv Sena won seven seats while Ajit Pawar-led NCP bagged a seat, but his wife Sunetra lost to Supriya Sule from Baramati. The BJP triggered the split of Shiv Sena and NCP with the aim of fracturing the opposition. Ajit Pawar split the Nationalist Congress Party last year and joined hands with the BJP and Shiv Sena to become Maharashtra deputy chief minister. In 2022, Eknath Shinde led the rebellion in Shiv Sena. Months later, the Uddhav Thackeray lost the party symbol and the Shinde faction was recognized as the ‘real’ Shiv Sena by the Election Commission. They formed the Mahayuti government in the state. The state assembly elections later this year will be a litmus test for the Mahayuti since the split in two major parties of Maharashtra.