Modi Wins Varanasi for Third Term, Defeats Congress’ Rai by 1.5 Lakh Votes

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has secured the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat for the third consecutive time, triumphing over Congress’ Ajay Rai by a substantial margin of over 1.5 lakh votes. The Bahujan Samaj Party’s Ather Jamal Lari trailed significantly, finishing nearly 5.8 lakh votes behind the Prime Minister.

This victory marks the ninth time the BJP has claimed this seat since 1991, with the only interruption being in 2004 when RK Mishra of Congress won. Ajay Rai, who has been contesting and losing the Varanasi seat in the last three general elections, initially led with 6,223 votes, raising hopes of an upset. However, Prime Minister Modi soon surged ahead, ultimately garnering over 6.12 lakh votes.

The BJP’s historical dominance in Uttar Pradesh has been noteworthy since 2014 when the ‘Modi wave’ swept through the state, winning 61 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats. The party’s success continued with a spectacular performance in the state assembly elections, securing 312 of the 403 seats under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath in 2017. Adityanath’s administration was re-elected in 2022, despite facing significant criticism during the farmers’ protests.

In the 2019 general elections, the BJP maintained its stronghold, winning 62 seats in Uttar Pradesh. Expectations for the 2024 elections were high, with exit polls predicting a major victory for Modi’s party. However, the actual results have been more competitive, with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party driving the opposition and making significant gains.

While the BJP is expected to emerge as the leading party, the Samajwadi Party is set to win a record 38 seats, marking a significant challenge to the BJP’s dominance. The Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, is also showing a resurgence, expected to reclaim the Amethi seat and win seven seats in total. Rahul Gandhi is poised for victories in both Raebareli and Wayanad.

The INDIA bloc’s strong performance in Uttar Pradesh is part of a broader trend of challenges to the BJP in key battleground states. In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress is likely to improve its previous tally of 22 seats, pushing back against the BJP’s gains from 2019. Similarly, in Maharashtra, the Maha Vikas Aghadi is on track to secure 29 of the 48 seats, despite internal challenges.

Prime Minister Modi’s victory in Varanasi reaffirms his enduring popularity and the BJP’s strong presence in Uttar Pradesh. However, the overall election results indicate a more competitive political landscape, with significant gains for the opposition in several crucial states.