Government Formation: 10 key developments, who said what, Nitish and Tejaswi in same flight to Delhi, NDA and INDI blocs meet at 4 and 6 pm and more

According to the final results declared by the Election Commission of India on Wednesday, the BJP won 240 seats, falling short of the majority mark of 272, while the Congress secured 99 in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav headed to Delhi today to attend meetings as the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition INDIA bloc are planning their next move towards the formation of a new government at the Centre following the completion of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav were seen boarding the Patna-Delhi Vistara flight UK-718, sheduled to arrive in the national capital at 10.40 am.

According to the final results declared by the Election Commission of India on Wednesday, the BJP won 240 seats, falling short of the majority mark of 272, while the Congress secured 99.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to form a government at the Centre for a third consecutive term despite his NDA falling of expectations in the face of a surprisingly strong showing by the INDIA bloc, as well as crushing losses in key states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The 2024 results were much lackluster as compared to the 303 and 282 seats the BJP-led NDA had won in 2019 and 2014, respectively, to have a majority on its own.

Latest Developments

1. Ahead of leaving for the national capital to attend the NDA meeting on a new government formation, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu said, “Today, I am heading to Delhi. After the completion of the election, this is my first press meet before going to Delhi. I am very glad for the support of the voters. Ups and downs are common in politics. Many political leaders and parties have been ousted in history. This is a historic election. Even voters from abroad have returned to their hometowns to exercise their votes.”

2. Tejashwi Yadav told reporters in Patna, “Our performance has been very good. We based our contest on issues. Lord Ram blessed the INDIA bloc in Ayodhya. So, it is very clear that the ‘Modi factor’ is finished. The BJP is far away from the majority. It is now dependent on allies. We are happy that we have been successful to a great extent in safeguarding the Constitution.”

#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: When asked if they are trying to have an INDIA alliance Government at the Centre, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, "We will keep trying. People should keep trying. Why shouldn't they?"

He also says, "Our performance has been very good…We based our… pic.twitter.com/hEMAh76owR

— ANI (@ANI) June 5, 2024

When asked about travelling on the same flight as the Bihar Chief Minister, the RJD leader said, “I don’t know if Nitish Kumar is also going to Delhi on the same flight.”

3. On Tuesday, RJD spokesperson Manoj Kumar Jha told reporters that Nitish Kumar and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, who is also heading to Delhi today “shared a dislike for vendetta politics” which could lead them away from the BJP-led NDA.

While responding to a query on whether RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav were in touch with Nitish Kumar, Jha said, “Those who need to contact him are talking to him. Our leader Tejashwi Yadav has been saying for some time that Nitish Kumar will take a big decision around June 4.”

4. Chandrababu Naidu, who is set to become the next Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister following his thumping victory in the general elections, thanked PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda “for their commitment to Andhra Pradesh’s future”.

“I thank the people of our state for blessing the TDP-JSP-BJP alliance with an overwhelming mandate to serve them. Together, we have won a battle to reclaim our state, and together, we will rebuild it,” he tweeted.

When asked about the government formation with NDA in Delhi, he said, “You always want news. I am experienced and I have seen several political changes in this country. We are in NDA, I’m going to the NDA meeting. In course of time, we will report it.”

#WATCH | Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh: TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu says, "You always want news. I am experienced and I have seen several political changes in this country. We are in NDA, I’m going to the NDA meeting. In course of time, we will report it." pic.twitter.com/IdDvaywjmd

— ANI (@ANI) June 5, 2024

5. The NDA meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence on Wednesday afternoon will take stock of the Lok Sabha poll results and deliberate on the details of the formation of a new Central government, which is likely to be different in composition and character with a bigger share for the BJP’s allies, PTI news agency reported, citing sources. Top leaders of the BJP and its other allies, who are likely to be in attendance, are also expected to congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is set for a record third term in office.

6. Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc meeting which will take place at around 6 pm in the national capital will be attended by top opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and party leader Surpiya Sule.

7. Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh told Aaj Tak, India Today’s sister channel, that the INDIA bloc’s decision to meet and discuss a government formation was the BJP’s defeat.

“The bloc’s biggest party, Congress, has made it clear that a strategy on attempts to form the government will be decided in today’s meeting. I can’t say who is speaking to the TDP chief. In 2019, Chandrababu Naidu gathered the opposition parties against the BJP on the issue of federalism. Nitish Kumar was the one who initiated efforts to form the INDIA Bloc. JDU MLAs were poached in the northeast by the BJP. Hope the JDU and TDP will keep these issues in mind when they take a final call,” he added.

8. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said there would be no objection if Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was ready to accept the leadership of the opposition.

“He is a national leader and has proved himself. He is popular. We all love him. In the INDIA alliance, there is no difference of opinion on who will be the Prime Minister,” he told reporters.

#WATCH | Mumbai: On whether Rahul Gandhi is the PM face of the INDIA alliance, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut says, "If Rahul Gandhi is ready to accept the leadership, why would we object? He is a national leader and has proved himself. He is popular… We all love him. In the… pic.twitter.com/ft1mFwuKE0

— ANI (@ANI) June 5, 2024

9. President Draupadi Murmu will host a dinner for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s outgoing Cabinet today. The dinner will be hosted at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

10. More than 640 million votes were counted on Tuesday, which were polled in the world’s largest democratic exercise conducted in seven phases from April 19 to June 1.