Day before results, the big Sensex surge
On the back of the exit polls predicting a return of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government, the domestic equity indices opened at record highs today. Better-than-expected FY24 GDP at 8.2 per cent and S&P’s upward revision of India’s rating outlook to positive from stable also cheered the market, analysts said. The BSE Sensex surpassed 76,500-mark for the first time on Monday. The 30-share index opened 76,583.29, up 2,621.98 points, or 3.55 per cent. The Nifty opened at record high of 23.337.9, up 807.2 points, or 3.58 per cent. Read More
How BJP may breach the South bastion
If the exit polls are to go by, it surely looks a positive picture for the BJP-led NDA in the South. As per the exit polls, the BJP, which has been trying to make inroads into the South, is set to put up a strong performance in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, and make notable gains in Telangana and Tamil Nadu. While overall the exit polls indicate a big lead for the DMK-led INDIA alliance in Tamil Nadu, giving it 33-39 seats out of the total 39 – which was anticipated – they give four-odd seats to the BJP. The national party had not won a single seat in Tamil Nadu in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Karnataka could hold a surprise if the BJP repeats its 2019 dominance, when it won 27 of the 28 seats, given the size of the Congress victory in the state Assembly elections last year. Even Telangana would be a surprise, if the exit polls hold true, given that the BJP has never been a major player here. Read More
How BJP is gearing-up for celebrations over weekend
Confident of a thumping victory, as predicted by the exit polls too, besides the official swearing-in ceremony of the new government, the BJP is learnt to be planning a “political event”, which is likely to be scheduled for the weekend. Sources said preparations for the swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan began last week. According to sources, the Central Public Works Department is “already working” on this event. The “political event” is likely to be held at the Bharat Mandapam or Kartavya Path on the same day as the official swearing-in, said sources. It is being themed as a showcase of the “cultural heritage of India”, with a possible sound-and-light show. It is likely to be attended by 8,000-10,000 people, including “representatives of foreign governments”. Read More
Why 400-paar is rare, has only happened once
Hours from now, we will finally know how close the BJP or NDA finishes to its touted seat target of “400 paar”. In India’s electoral history, a party has crossed that number only once, when the Congress won 414 seats (of the 541 that voted) in the Lok Sabha elections that followed Indira Gandhi’s assassination. Even in the initial years following Independence, when the Congress was the predominant party, its numbers were more modest — between 1951-52 and until 1977, the party’s highest seat tally was 371 in 1957, while it won more than 300 seats in 1951-52, 1957, 1962 and 1971. In the post-Emergency election of 1977 though, the Congress won just 154 seats. By 1980, it had recovered to 353 seats. Read More to know why the 400-mark is so difficult to go past.
