If exit poll predictions are to be believed then PM Narendra Modi will return to power for a second term. Exit polls by News 18-Ipsos, India Today-Axis and News 24-Chanakya projected 336, 339-368 and 336-364 seats respectively for the NDA, with the BJP tipped to cross the majority on its own for another term after the 2014 polls.
Markets Live: Big day for Sensex, all eyes on election results
23 May 2019, 08:59:40 AM IST
Congress leading in Punjab
Congress candidate Jasbir Singh Dimpa is leading by 721 votes over his nearest rival and SAD nominee Bibi Jagir Kaur from Punjab’s Khadoor Sahib seat, as per initial EC trends.
23 May 2019, 08:57:53 AM IST
Maharashtra: NCP’s Parth Pawar leading, Amol Kolhe trailing
Parth Pawar, the grand-nephew of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, is leading in Maval Lok Sabha seat of Maharashtra, as per initial trends available.
Parth, son of former state deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, is leading by 1,173 votes over Shiv Sena’s sitting MP Shrirang Barne.
In Shirur, NCP nominee Amol Kolhe is leading by 2,890 votes over Shiv Sena’s sitting MP Shivaji Adhalrao Patil. (PTI)
23 May 2019, 08:57:53 AM IST
Tale of two party presidents – Amit Shah and Rahul Gandhi
The 2019 general elections is not just a test for the union government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi but also crucial step for both Amit Shah, president of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Both Shah and Gandhi are spearheading their respective political parties in the first national polls which are being overseen by them.
While Shah has been a key figure in planning of BJP’s election campaign since 2014 general elections, 2019 general elections are the first for him after taking over as the party president. A similar test is for Gandhi who is trying to revive the Congress party as its president and is the face of his party in the campaign for the elections. The 2014 elections were fought by Congress under the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi while Rahul Gandhi was then serving as the vice president of the party.
For Shah, stakes are very high in this election. He has travelled nearly 1.6 lakh kilometres of the country holding 161 public meetings, 18 road shows, held over 1,500 meetings with BJP leaders and workers and personally visited 312 Lok Sabha constituencies personally.
He has held more public meetings than any other BJP leader, even more than Prime Minister Narendra Modi who held 142 rallies and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath who took part in 135 public meetings.
23 May 2019, 08:59:40 AM IST
Congress leading in Punjab
Congress candidate Jasbir Singh Dimpa is leading by 721 votes over his nearest rival and SAD nominee Bibi Jagir Kaur from Punjab’s Khadoor Sahib seat, as per initial EC trends.
23 May 2019, 08:57:08 AM IST
Sonia Gandhi leading from Raebareli
23 May 2019, 08:55:53 AM IST
BJP is leading in Karnataka, according to early trends
23 May 2019, 08:54:39 AM IST
Anurag Thakur leading from Hamirpur
Sitting BJP MP Anurag Thakur is leading with 3,103 votes against his nearest rival Ram Lal Thakur of Congress in Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur seat: Officials
23 May 2019, 08:53:43 AM IST
BJP seems to be making smart gains in West Bengal and Odisha.
23 May 2019, 08:50:24 AM IST
BJP seemed to be holding off the much-feared Mahagathbandhan in Uttar Pradesh while making smart gains in West Bengal and Odisha.
23 May 2019, 08:48:33 AM IST
BJP/NDA is now leading in 173 seats, Congress/allies in 73 seats
23 May 2019, 08:47:53 AM IST
BJP’s Smriti Irani is leading against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi
23 May 2019, 08:46:38 AM IST
Congress is ahead in 4 seats of Punjab: ABP News
23 May 2019, 08:45:45 AM IST
Oil prices extend fall
In some good news for Indian markets, oil prices today dropped, extending falls from the previous session amid surging US crude inventories and weak demand from refineries. Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $70.62 per barrel, down 0.5%, from their last close.
23 May 2019, 08:43:00 AM IST
Sensex performance on 16 May, 2014 – Counting day of Lok Sabha elections 2014
The Sensex on May 16, 2014, created history by hitting 25,000 for the first time as trends indicated a clear majority for Narendra Modi-led BJP in Lok Sabha 2014 polls. Intra-day, the Sensex surged a massive 1,470 points to hit a then life-time high of 25,375 in early trade fuelled by hopes that BJP government would fast-track reforms and accelerate economic activity. However, it retreated on massive profit-booking to end at record close of 24,121, a gain of 216 points or 0.90%.
23 May 2019, 08:42:33 AM IST
SGX Nifty surges as early leads in
SGX Nifty surges 0.6% while 1-month rupee forwards gain 0.4% to 69.75 a dollar as early counting shows Modi party leading. According to TV reports, BJP has extended lead to 100 seats while Congress to 32 seats.
23 May 2019, 08:39:24 AM IST
Rahul Gandhi is leading from both Amethi, Wayanad seats: TV reports
23 May 2019, 08:40:19 AM IST
Rahul Gandhi’s biggest electoral test begin
The spotlight is on Congress president Rahul Gandhi who is overseeing the first general elections for the party. In what marked a generational shift for the party, Gandhi took over to the top formally in December 2017 from his mother and former party president Sonia Gandhi.
After a historic drubbing in the 2014 general elections, when Rahul Gandhi was serving as the vice president of the party, Congress faced a series of losses in state polls. With the exception of Punjab in 2017, it did not win any state election without allies and lost most of the states to BJP.
One of the biggest challenges for Gandhi has been to arrest Congress’ decline in states where it is in direct contest with BJP. In December, Congress witnessed a bright spot as it defeated ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. For Gandhi, the biggest challenge in this election will also be whether Congress is able to continue the momentum from December or not.
Two of the biggest pitch by the Congress party in the campaign was the nationwide farm loan waiver scheme and the minimum income guarantee scheme or NYAY. In a bid to corner the Modi government over the issue of corruption, Gandhi often used the term “Chowkidaar Chor Hai” or the guard is the thief.
The outcome on Thursday will in a way shape Gandhi’s political future particularly on whether he is able to further cement his position as the chief of the party as also with respect to his acceptability among other senior opposition leaders. The party is of the opinion that if the NDA falls short of halfway mark, Congress would string together its old and new alliances to stake claim.
23 May 2019, 08:35:33 AM IST
NDA is leading in 150 seats, UPA in 58 seats
Results 2019: BJP Leads In 134 Seats
The BJP is leading in 134 seats, the Congress in 41, others in 21.
BJP Lok Sabha Results 2019: BJP Takes Big Leads In Karnataka, Gujarat
The BJP is leading in 22 seats in Karnataka. In Gujarat, the party is leading in 20 seats. Overall, the BJP is leading in 121 seats, the Congress in 51.
Results 2019: BJP Leads In 134 Seats
The BJP is leading in 134 seats, the Congress in 41, others in 21.
BJP Lok Sabha Results 2019: BJP Leads In 107 Seats
With big gains in Gujarat, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, the BJP is leading in 107 seats now.
BJP Results: BJP Takes Early Lead
The BJP has taken early lead. The party is leading in 16 seats. The Congress leads in 5 seats.
BJP Results: Counting Begins
Counting has begun. First trends have emerged. The BJP and the Congress are leading in two seats each.
BJP Results: 20,000 BJP Workers Ordered To Reach Delhi
The BJP has asked 20,000 workers to reach its headquarters in Delhi. The workers are expected to receive PM Modi in the evening.
