In the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) has appeared determined to challenge the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The opposition alliance has been making significant strides, with three key events significantly influencing the political landscape. Whether it's the cancellation of nominations in Khajuraho, a walkover in Surat, or a BJP candidate joining in Indore, these events have made the path smoother for the NDA, earning them a cakewalk. Let's delve into these crucial events:

1. Disappointment for INC before voting in Khajuraho:

This incident dates back to April 8, 2024. Disappointment had already been made for the Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) ahead of the elections in Madhya Pradesh. The nomination of Meera Deepak Yadav, the candidate fielded by the Samajwadi Party (SP) led by former Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, was rejected for the Khajuraho seat as per the alliance agreement. This decision led to significant disappointment among Congress members, as the constituency has historically been a stronghold for the party.

Vishnu Dutt Sharma, the state president of the BJP, has been nominated for the Khajuraho seat for the second consecutive time. He won the 2019 general elections with a margin of nearly five lakh votes. This created a dilemma for the SP and Congress as to whom to support, as Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Kamalesh Patel is also a significant contender at the national level. However, on April 15, 2024, Congress decided to support RB Prajapati, the candidate of the All India Forward Bloc.

• BJP candidate wins uncontested in Surat:

The nomination of the Congress candidate Nilesh Kumbhani from the Surat seat in Gujarat was declared invalid on April 20, 2024. Three proposers (Ramesh Palara, Jagdish Savalia, and Dhruvin Dhamelia) claimed that they had yet to sign his nomination form. At the same time, nine other candidates, including BSP candidate Pyarelal Bharti, withdrew their names. This led to the BJP's account being opened even before the election results were announced.

Mukesh Dalal, the BJP candidate, emerged victorious uncontested, resulting in no election being held in the Surat constituency. This was the first instance in the state's Lok Sabha elections where a candidate won uncontested. BJP candidates have been winning with significant vote margins in Surat since the 1990s, making it a stronghold for the party in Gujarat.

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