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Narendra Modi emerges from this election with his aura of invincibility seriously damaged. Forced to work with multiple partners, will he be able to pull off a coalition government?

In this issue

28-06-202434 STORIES

Mandate 2024 — The Lede

Jan ki baat: How voters humbled Modi by rejecting authoritarianism and embracing inclusive politics

India voted emphatically for political, social, and economic inclusion, for a more consultative government, and for the sanctity of the Constitution.

Nirupama Subramanian

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Editor’s Note: Modi’s diminished mandate a rebuke to emperor’s robes and divine halo

The Lok Sabha election results show that voters have a message for Modi: Govern as elected PM, and not as Supreme Leader.

Caste returns to centre stage in the 2024 Lok Sabha election

Despite attempts to downplay its significance, caste remained a driving force in the election, challenging the BJP’s subaltern Hindutva experiment.

How women voted

Even with more women registering to vote, female voter turnout declined in 2024 compared to 2019, widening the gender gap in political participation.

T.K. Rajalakshmi

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FROM THE SIDELINES

A stunning rebuke to Narendra Modi’s divisive, anti-Muslim rhetoric

Restoring faith in the nation’s secular foundations, voters across religious lines stressed on economic concerns and constitutional values.

How the SP-Congress alliance in Uttar Pradesh became a sponge that soaked in people’s discontent against BJP and Modi

It was able to present itself to the OBCs, Dalits, and minorities as a viable and inclusive alternative.

Maharashtra: A decisive rejection of revolving-door politics and communal rhetoric

The decisive victory of the Maha Vikas Aghadi has left the BJP-Shiv Sena reeling. The results will have an impact on the Assembly election too.

The Colour of Hope

Salaam, Indian voters!

Rejecting communal politics, they have reaffirmed faith in secularism, federalism, and scientific temper.

Supporters of the Trinamool Congress celebrate the party’s lead during the counting of votes, outside party supremo Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence in Kolkata, on June 4.

Welfare wins in West Bengal

Mamata Banerjee’s welfare initiatives like Lakshmir Bhandar, strong grassroots organisation, and Muslim support base foil BJP’s ambitions.

Suhrid Sankar Chattopadhyay

Nitish Kumar saves the day for NDA in Bihar

Correct caste calculations and Nitish Kumar’s vote-catching abilities, along with Chirag Paswan’s stupendous victories, propel the NDA to the top.

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How the DMK-led alliance has swept Tamil Nadu, thwarting BJP’s perception battle

It has won all 39 seats with its social justice plank anchored in secularism. While BJP’s vote share rose, AIADMK suffered its worst electoral defeat.

Ilangovan Rajasekaran

Alliance with JD(S) has delivered results for BJP in Karnataka

Despite Congress’ welfare schemes, the BJP rode on Lingayat support to win 17 Lok Sabha seats, ably aided by the JD(S).

Vikhar Ahmed Sayeed

What Modi 3.0 means for the market and economy

As the market teeters between panic and cautious recovery, the coalition government has to find fixes for joblessness, inequality and fiscal woes.

Mitali Mukherjee

TDP-JSP-BJP juggernaut heralds a major shift in Andhra Pradesh’s politics

Anti-incumbency, welfare promises, and sustained campaign strategies in addition to caste combinations won the day for the TDP-BJP-JSP alliance.

BJP’s hat-trick dreams shattered in Rajasthan as voters prioritise bread-and-butter issues

The Congress-led INDIA bloc cut into the saffron party’s vote bank substantially by foregrounding unemployment, inflation, and farmers’ concerns.

T.K. Rajalakshmi

Naveen Patnaik: The fall of a titan

Patnaik’s 24-year rule in Odisha as the head of the Biju Janata Dal government comes to an end as the party draws a blank in the Lok Sabha election.

Suhrid Sankar Chattopadhyay

Margins of Victory

The Dalit-Bahujan finally roars

A new anti-caste spectrum is emerging. And that promises to put social justice on the centre stage while signalling that BJP is not an alternative.

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UDF sweep and BJP’s historic gains compound CPI(M)‘s troubles in Kerala

Actor Suresh Gopi’s victory in Thrissur and NDA’s impressive performance point towards a significant shift in Kerala’s traditional bipolar politics.

M.G. Radhakrishnan

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As BRS faces a crushing defeat in Telangana, BJP sees hope of expansion

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi failed to win any seats in the Telangana Lok Sabha election, with the Congress and BJP gaining ground.

INDIA bloc supporters celebrate Congress candidate Kalicharan Munda’s lead in the Lok Sabha election in Khunti on June 4.

Jharkhand: Defeat in all Lok Sabha seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes could hurt BJP in Assembly elections

The JMM is hoping that its increased tally will help it score a repeat victory later this year.

Punjab: The paradox of Congress resurgence and radical rise

The State witnessed a peculiar trend—resurgence of Congress and rise of radical Sikh elements, triggering concerns about its future trajectory.

Even stevens in Haryana as Congress scripts resounding comeback

The Congress made the most of the anger and dissatisfaction against the BJP in the State to wrest half of the seats.

Neighbourhood Watch

With Modi leading a coalition government, what lies ahead for India’s tense neighbourhood?

Prime Minister Modi now confronts regional tensions, China’s assertiveness, and the need for a stable South Asian framework.

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BJP retains upper hand in Assam but Congress finds its feet in the North-East once again

By winning both seats in Manipur and one each in Meghalaya and Nagaland, the Congress recorded an impressive resurgence in the region.

Sushanta Talukdar

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Kashmir’s revolt at the ballot box

The increased voter turnout reflects the public’s non-acceptance of the abrogation of Article 370 and their discontent with the BJP.

Irfan Amin Malik

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Civil servants as change-makers

Based on years of fieldwork, Akshay Mangla’s book shows how bureaucrats influence outcomes by enabling community participation and local ownership.

Uma Mahadevan-Dasgupta

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A compelling case for regulating cryptocurrency

Mitali Mukherjee’s book, while repetitive and tedious, explains the need for standardised regulations and practices for this porous currency.

Eshwar Sundaresan

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Caracal: The mystery cat

A redolently illustrated, rigorously scientific, and richly historical book tells the story of one of India’s most elusive cats.

Neel Mukherjee’s Choice tackles economics, identity, and the burden of morality

This beautifully written novel strikes a significant blow for the novel as a genre, to begin with, retrieving it from plastic pundits.

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In The Meat Market, Mashiul Alam keeps things relentlessly real

This collection, best described as surrealist political horror, sees human motivations being neither applauded nor rebuked.

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New books on the shelves

An award-winning Punjabi novel in translation, and the memoirs of two of India’s finest social activists, and more.

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On love and other demons

What is it that we talk about when we talk about love?

‘The Dystopian Times’ by Appupen

Letters to the Editor

Letters

Readers respond to Frontline’s coverage.

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