As NDA, INDIA scramble for majority, Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav share flight to Delhi

With the 2024 Lok Sabha polls denying an absolute majority to BJP, both the NDA and INDIA alliances are holding crucial meetings today to gather the numbers needed to form the government. The BJP-led NDA secured 294 seats in the 543-member Parliament, 22 more than the majority mark of 272. The INDIA Opposition bloc finished with 234 seats, falling 38 short of the majority.

Two NDA allies, TDP's Chandrababu Naidu and JDU's Nitish Kumar, are crucial for forming the government. While both contested the election in alliance with BJP, INDIA leaders are reportedly reaching out to them to join the Opposition bloc. INDIA needs the support of both JDU and TDP, along with several unaligned MPs, to achieve a majority.

The day after the results, leaders from both NDA and INDIA alliances are traveling to Delhi for discussions on the way forward. Interestingly, Nitish Kumar and INDIA ally Tejashwi Yadav were on the same flight to Delhi, attending separate meetings.

Nitish Kumar's close aide and JDU leader KC Tyagi stated yesterday that the party will remain with the NDA, dismissing any speculation of switching to the INDIA bloc. Meanwhile, Mr. Naidu congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on NDA's performance in Andhra Pradesh and expressed his commitment to rebuilding the state with BJP.