Guwahati: As the last phase of polling under general elections 2024 is completed, Bharat eagerly waits for Tuesday for the outcome that will shape the 18th Lok Sabha. Northeast Bharat (NE) sends 25 members to the lower house of Parliament and it’s assumed that the prime opposition party Indian National Congress will hardly get extraordinary positive news from the region. Once a strong bastion of the country’s oldest political party, northeast Bharat may go with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies. Once an alienated region and often termed as a land of separatists, the region recorded more voters’ response (nearly 80%) than the national average (less than 70%) in the first three phases of voting conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on 19, 26 April and 7 May. Recording their mandates in the electronic voting machines with pride and responsibilities, the voters from eight north-eastern States reaffirmed their trust on the democratic values and commitment to make Bharat as a greatest democracy on Earth.
The saffron party, which rules six States of the region directly or as an ally to the governments, won 18 LS seats in the last Parliamentary polls (2019) and this time it may increase its tally to 20 or more. The Congress, once ruled the entire region for many decades, remains out of political power in the recent past. If the BJP and its allies won in Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Assam (at least 10 out of 14 seats), the outcome will be encouraging for the saffron party only. Moreover, the non-BJP governments of Mizoram and Sikkim do not have any alliance with the Congress. Both the States are currently ruled by regional political parties (which cannot be termed as hardcore anti-BJP) and their Parliamentarians are expected to play a positive role in New Delhi after the new government will take charge.
Meanwhile, the ECI led by CEC Rajiv Kumar, ECs Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu extended profound gratitude to voters, political parties, polling machinery and everyone involved in making the giant electoral process a success. Indian voters, who made it to the polling station overcoming many challenges, had risen to the trust reposed by the founders of Indian Constitution, when they handed over the power of suffrage to the common voters. The impressive participation of electorates irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, socio-economic and educational background, in the democratic exercise reaffirms the democratic ethos and spirit of India. Indian democracy and Indian elections have again done the magic again, where the real winner is the voters.
ECI also expressed its gratitude to the entire election machinery including security forces for their dedication and commitment in providing a smooth, peaceful and festive environment to voters across the vast country, braving tough weather, logistical challenges like tough terrains and managing law and order in a diverse demography. It also thanked all political parties and candidates which are a critical pivot of the Indian elections. Commission remained thankful to the print, electronic and digital media for their contribution as it always considers the media as an ally for free & fair elections. ECI finally aspired that the next generation voters of Bharat will take this participation to even greater heights.
Congress can expect hardly any gain from NE voters
