"Modi-factor is finished," says RJD's Tejashwi Yadav as he heads to INDIA bloc meet
Jun 05, 2024
Patna (Bihar) [India], June 5 : Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday took a jibe at the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and asserted that the party is far away from the majority and is now dependent on allies. Yadav also claimed that after the declaration of the 18th Lok Sabha election results, the "Modi-factor" had finished.
Speaking to reporters ahead of attending the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi, Tekjashwi Yadav said, "RJD has secured the maximum number of votes in Bihar and our voting per cent is greatest. We have also witnessed an increase in the number of seats as compared to the last time... The people of the country have taught a lesson to the BJP, they have voted against the divisive policy, and the politics of hatred. They have voted against their dictatorship and have stopped it."
Asserting that the people of the country voted to save the Constitution, and democracy, Yadav said, "BJP is far away from the majority. Now BJP has no majority of its own. Now, the people of BJP are dependent."
Speaking about the INDIA bloc's win in Ayodhya, Yadav said, "PM spoke with so much hatred against the Muslim brothers that even Lord Ram taught him a lesson."
He added, "Our performance has been very good...We fought the elections based on real issues. Lord Ram blessed the INDIA alliance in Ayodhya. So, it is very clear that the 'Modi factor' is finished... We are happy that we have been successful to a great extent in safeguarding the Constitution and democracy."
Tejashwi Yadav also spoke about his three main demands from the future government and said, " We expect that whoever forms the government, should grant the status of 'Special State' to Bihar, 75"% reservation that we raised should be incorporated into Schedule 9, and there should be caste census all over India."
Notably, the JDU emerged victorious on 12 out of 40 seats in Bihar while the BJP won 12 seats, the RJD won four seats and Congress secured three seats.
Declaration of results of the 18th Lok Sabha election in the 543-member Parliament saw the BJP-led NDA winning 294 seats and the INDIA bloc bagging 234 seats. A party or coalition requires a two-thirds majority of 272 seats to form the government.
Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet is likely to meet today at around 11:30 am in Delhi. The NDA leaders will meet at Prime Minister Modi's residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg today. The meeting is scheduled to take place at around 3:30 pm.
Key leaders like Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and former Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu are expected to attend the NDA meeting.
The INDIA bloc meeting will be held in the national capital at around 6:00 pm.
The counting of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was held on Tuesday. According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP won 240 seats, much lower than its 2019 tally of 303. The Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong growth, winning 99 seats.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has secured a third term, but the BJP will need to rely on the support of other parties in his coalition - JD (U) chief Nitish Kumar and TDP's chief Chandrababu Naidu.
BJP fell 32 seats short of the 272 majority mark after votes polled in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were counted. For the first time, since the Bharatiya Janata Party swept to power in 2014, it did not secure a majority on its own.