The aftermath of the 18th Lok Sabha elections, held on Tuesday, June 4, unfolded a narrative of intrigue and fascination. Should the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ascend to power, Narendra Modi would etch his name in history as the first Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to secure three consecutive terms.

The prospect of a third term for PM Modi looms large as the NDA hovers tantalizingly close to the 300-seat mark, a considerable 28 seats beyond the requisite mandate for a majority. However, the day witnessed a resurgence in the Opposition’s fortunes, particularly the INDIA bloc, surpassing the modest projections outlined by Exit Polls.

In the midst of this political drama, figures like PM Modi and former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi emerged as triumphant protagonists, while others like BJP’s Smriti Irani and National Conference’s Omar Abdullah found themselves relegated to the sidelines, their ambitions thwarted.

Here’s a glimpse into the victories of five prominent figures:

1. PM Narendra Modi (Varanasi) Prime Minister Narendra Modi clinched victory in the Varanasi constituency for the third consecutive term in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, triumphing over Congress’s Ajay Rai. Modi secured 6,12,970 votes (54.24%), albeit with a slight dip of approximately 9 percentage points compared to 2019.

   Varanasi, among the most illustrious constituencies among India’s 543 Lok Sabha seats, holds significance as the bastion of the saffron party since 1991. PM Modi has represented this constituency since 2014, boasting resounding victories in both the 2014 and 2019 elections.

2. Home Minister Amit Shah (Gandhinagar) Union Home Minister Amit Shah secured a landslide victory in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat, amassing a commanding lead of over seven lakh votes against his nearest Congress rival, Sonal Ramanbhai Patel. Shah’s dominance in Gandhinagar underscores the BJP’s stronghold in the region, a legacy upheld by stalwarts such as former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former Deputy PM LK Advani.
3. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (Lucknow) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emerged victorious in the Lucknow constituency in Uttar Pradesh, garnering a substantial lead of over 1.35 lakh votes against his closest competitor, Ravidas Mehrotra of the Samajwadi Party. Singh’s triumph further solidifies the BJP’s grip on Lucknow, a constituency it has held since 1991.
4. Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi (Wayanad and Rae Bareli) Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi clinched victory in the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala with a commanding margin of over 3.5 lakh votes against CPI’s Annie Raja, reaffirming his electoral prowess. Similarly, in the traditional Congress bastion of Rae Bareli, Rahul Gandhi secured a resounding victory against the BJP’s Dinesh Pratap Singh, underscoring the enduring legacy of the Gandhi family in Indian politics.
5. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav (Kannauj) Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav emerged as a dominant force in Uttar Pradesh, securing victory in the Kannauj constituency against Subrat Pathak of the BJP by a decisive margin of 1,70,922 votes. The triumph of Akhilesh Yadav and the Samajwadi Party signals a potential shift in the political landscape of Uttar Pradesh.

Amidst the victories, there were also significant setbacks, with figures like BJP’s Smriti Irani and NC’s Omar Abdullah facing defeat in their respective constituencies. These electoral dynamics underscore the fluidity of Indian politics and the enduring contestation for power and representation.