In the whirlwind of the 2024 electoral saga, Congress etched a momentous milestone by surpassing the 12 crore vote threshold, a feat unseen in four decades. This triumph harks back to the somber annals of 1984, marred by the tragic demise of Indira Gandhi, where Congress orchestrated a colossal wave of endorsement, amassing a staggering 12.01 crore votes.
In stark juxtaposition, the BJP clinched a meager 1.84 crore votes during that epoch, amidst a pool of approximately 25 crore valid votes. Despite the burgeoning electorate since then, Congress had languished beneath the 12 crore benchmark until the dawn of 2024.
In the present epoch, Congress has mustered a commendable 13.63 crore votes, a stride beyond its performance in the annus horribilis of 1984. Yet, it remains in the shadow of the BJP, which has garnered an impressive 23.45 crore votes. As per the Election Commission’s dossier, the cumulative votes cast in the nation’s electoral labyrinth in 2024 tallied 64.20 crore.
Post the watershed moment of 1984, in the quiescence of 1989, the aggregate valid votes eclipsed the 30 crore threshold, with Congress clinching 11.88 crore votes and BJP securing 3.42 crore votes. In subsequent electoral bouts, the aggregate votes tabulated to 27.42 crore, with Congress amassing 9.98 crore votes and BJP securing 5.58 crore votes.
Congress garnered 9.64 crore votes in 1996, 9.51 crore in 1998, and 10.31 crore in 1999. During these junctures, BJP secured 6.79 crore, 9.42 crore, and 8.65 crore votes, respectively.
In the epochs of 2004 and 2009, amidst the tenure of the UPA government, Congress garnered 10.34 crore and 11.91 crore votes, respectively, while BJP secured 8.63 crore and 7.84 crore votes, respectively.
Till then, the Bharatiya Janata Party perennially trailed Congress in the echelons of vote share. However, the tides turned in 2014, as BJP vaulted over Congress, maintaining an enviable lead ever since. Nevertheless, Congress has endeavored, witnessing incremental progress post that watershed electoral cycle.
| Year | Total Votes | Congress Votes | BJP Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984-85 | 24.97 | 12.01 (48.10%) | 1.84 (7.40%) |
| 1989 | 30.09 | 11.88 (39.50%) | 3.41 (11.40%) |
| 1991-92 | 27.42 | 9.98 (36.40%) | 5.58 (20.07%) |
| 1996 | 33.49 | 9.64 (28.80%) | 6.79 (20.29%) |
| 1998 | 36.83 | 9.51 (25.82%) | 9.42 (25.59%) |
| 1999 | 36.43 | 10.31 (28.30%) | 8.65 (23.75%) |
| 2004 | 38.97 | 10.34 (26.53%) | 8.63 (22.16%) |
| 2009 | 41.72 | 11.91 (28.55%) | 7.84 (18.80%) |
| 2014 | 54.78 | 10.69 (19.52%) | 17.16 (31.34%) |
| 2019 | 60.74 | 11.94 (19.67%) | 22.90 (37.70%) |
| 2024 | 64.20 | 13.63 (21.30%) | 23.45 (36.60%) |