Good morning! Welcome to Moneycontrol’s live coverage of the 2019 Lok Sabha election result. This LIVE blog will bring you the latest updates and news as votes are counted across the country.
Counting of votes is undergoing in 542 Lok Sabha constituencies of India today, on May 23.
PM Narendra Modi will take oath as the Prime Minister on May 30.
Stay tuned for the latest updates through the day.
The Election Commission of India (EC) conducted the Lok Sabha polls in seven phases between April 11 and May 19 to elect the 17th Lok Sabha.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners are making a bid to retain power. This is amid efforts by several Opposition parties, including the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress, to put up a united fight. 'Others' or the 'third front' is also trying to wrest power.
Uttar Pradesh is witnessing a fierce electoral battle between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party (SP)-Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)-Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) ‘Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance)’.
In Andhra Pradesh, the battle is between Telugu Desam Party (TDP)’s and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).
West Bengal has been an interesting battle ground in this election. The BJP has been trying to make inroads into this state where they have had minimum presence. Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) is hoping to curb BJP’s rise there.
Exit poll results, released on May 19, predicted a big victory for BJP-led NDA. In fact, many exit polls have suggested that the BJP could get a majority on its own. Multiple exit polls have predicted NDA to win around 340-350 seats.
While there are a 543 seats in the Lower House of Parliament, polling only happened in 542 constituencies after elections in Vellore, Tamil Nadu was cancelled after a cash haul. Vellore is expected to head for polling at a later date.
Besides the larger national picture, counting of votes will happen for the Legislative Assembly polls in four states -- Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim. Counting for 46 Assembly by-polls across 13 states will also happen today, May 23.
JUST IN | PM Modi has left Arun Jaitley's residence.
JUST IN | PM Modi has arrived at Arun Jaitley's residence.
Sources have told news agency ANI that he may request Jaitley to stay in the government. Earlier today Jaitley had requested PM Modi to not give him any responsibility citing health reasons.
Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant to be inducted in Modi ministry
Arvind Sawant, Shiv Sena MP from Mumbai South, will be sworn in as Union minister Thursday, a senior party leader said.
He will replace Anant Geete, the lone Sena minister in the previous Narendra Modi-led government, who lost from the Raigad Lok Sabha seat in last month's election, the leader said Wednesday.
– PTI
Update:
Amit Shah metwith Narendra Singh Tomar, Arjun Ram Meghwaltoday.Ram Lal, who is BJPSanghtan Mantri, also met with AmitShah today.
Kin of BJP workers killed in political violence in Bengal invited for Modi's swearing-in
The family members of over 50 BJP workers, who the party claims were killed in political violence in West Bengal in the last one year, left for New Delhi on Wednesday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a second term.
The BJP has invited them to take part in Modi's swearing-in on May 30 as a "gesture of showing respect to our martyrs", a senior leader of the saffron party said.
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JUST IN | Prime Minister Narendra Modi will drive down to Arun Jaitley's residence around 8.30 PM today. PM is likely to ask Arun Jaitley to reconsider his earlier decision and remain in Government, sources have told ANI.
Update:
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh will also attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony tomorrow.
Update:
Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy: I have received the invitation for the PM's swearing-in ceremony tomorrow. I will attend it. We need to have a cordial relation with the central govt if Puducherry wants to move forward. This is the first step towards it.
JUST IN | Congress President Rahul Gandhi to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony tomorrow.
Update: UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's oath ceremony tomorrow.
JUST IN | Another TMC MLA Munirul Islam joins the BJP.
PM Modi to visit Maldives on June 7-8
This is going to be PM Modi's first international trip after he has sworn in as the Prime Minister for a second term.
The Foreign Minister of Maldives Abdulla Shahid, in a tweet, said that "Maldives Parliament has unanimously passed a resolution to invite PM Narendra Modito address a sitting of the house during his upcoming visit to the Maldives."
JUST IN | PM Modi to visit Maldives on June 7-8
Speaking to the media, Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy has said that he will meet Congress President Rahul Gandhi. “He (Rahul Gandhi) should not resign,” he added.
Read more: Arun Jaitley opts out of Modi govt 2.0, cites health reasons
Update:
BJP President Amit Shah, senior party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad and DMK Leader Kanimozhi have resigned as Rajya Sabha members.
Shah, Prasad and Kanimozhi have been elected to the Lok Sabha from Gandhinagar (Gujarat), Patna Sahib (Bihar) and Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu), respectively.
Arun Jaitley: I would obviously have a lot of time at my disposal to undertake any work informally to support the government or the party.
Arun Jaitley in a letter to the prime minister:
I am writing to you to formally request you that I should be allowed a reasonable time for myself, my treatment and my health and, therefore, not be part of any responsibility, for the present, in the new Government.
NEWS FLASH:
Arun Jaitley,in a letter to PM Modi has requested to not be included in the new Union Cabinet.
"I have had some serious health challenges in last 18 months. I need time for myself, treatment and my health," he added.
BJP fares well in 'minority-concentration' districts, wins over 50% seats
The BJP has managed to puncture opposition's claims that the party is anti-minority by winning more than 50 percent of the Lok Sabha seats in 90 'minority-concentration' districts identified in 2008 by the then UPA government.
Meanwhile, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) leaders will be meeting party chief Rahul Gandhi later today, news agency ANI has reported.
Odisha's new Council of Ministers are now being sworn in.
NEWS FLASH:
BJD's Naveen Patnaikhas been sworn in as the Chief Minister of Odisha for the fifth consecutive term.
Naveen Patnaik will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Odishafor the fifth consecutive term, shortly.
Update:
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLAs and MLCs will be meeting later today at former chief minister Rabri Devi's residence in Patna, Bihar. Meeting will be chaired by Tejashwi Yadav. RJD failed to win a single seat in the state.
Update:
Meeting of Janata Dal (United) office bearers to be held at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's residence later today, news agency ANI has reported.
BJP leader Pema Khandu is expected to be sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the second term today at 12.00 pm.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will be administered the oath of the office today at 10.30 am in a function at the Exhibition Ground in Bhubaneswar.
Just In |
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will attend PM Modi'soath-taking ceremony, News18 has reported. The TMC chief said that she will attend the event since it is a formal event, and that she has spoken with other CMs as well.
Update:
BJP President Amit Shah is holding a meeting with PM Modi at latter's residence, News18 has reported. Formation of the Cabinet is likely to be the agenda of the meeting, according to News18.
Update:
Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee has released a statement appealing to Congress President Rahul Gandhi to take back his resignation. (ANI)
Update:
Meanwhile, three MLAs and around 50-60 Councillors from different parties in West Bengal have switched to the BJP, according to reports.
Update:
DMK chief MK Stalin has urged Congress President Rahul Gandhi not to tender resignation from his post, News18 has reported.
Rajasthan Congress Secretary Sushil Asopa to News18:
After the loss, many Congress leaders are asking for a change of Chief Minister. Sachin Pilot should be made the CM.
Update:
Outgoing Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu has been invited to swearing-in ceremony of AP CM designate Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy, on 30th May in Vijayawada. (ANI)
Former President Pranab Mukherjee has tweeted: Thank you for your kind words and gesture PM Narendra Modi. It was indeed a pleasure meeting you. As you proceed, stronger into the second innings, my good wishes are with you in achieving your vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas aur Sabka Vishwas.
Rajinikanth on the Congress crisis: He (Rahul Gandhi) should not resign. He should prove he can do it. In democracy, the Opposition should also be strong.
"The central government has to take Tamil Nadu seriously and come with projects for the state," he added.
Actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth is speaking to the media. “This victory is a victory for Narendra Modi. He is a charismatic leader. In India, after Jawaharlal Nehru and Rajiv Gandhi, he is now a charismatic leader. I will be going for the swearing in ceremony of Narendra Modi ji,” he said.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has also arrived at Rahul Gandhi’s residence in Delhi.
RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav has tweeted: “Rahul (Gandhi)’s offer to resign suicidal. Opposition parties had the common goal to dislodge BJP but failed to build a national narrative. The result in a particular election can never alter the reality in as diverse and plural a country as India.”
He also told The Telegraph that “Rahul Gandhi’s offer to step down as Congress president will be suicidal, not only for his party, but for all social and political forces battling against the Sanghparivar.”
Reports are now suggesting that Rahul Gandhi has called a meeting of senior party leaders at 4.30 pm.
Congress is huddle:
AICC General Secretary for UP (East) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilotand Communications in-chargeRandeep Singh Surjewalahave arrived at Congress President Rahul Gandhi's residence.
Rajasthan’s Agriculture Minister Lalchand Kataria has resigned from the Congress-led state government citing the party’s loss in the general election, The Indian Express has reported.
Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi will attend the swearing in ceremony of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister for the second term.
An official source said Bedi left here for Delhi today. The Lt Governor will in the meanwhile complete three years in office on tomorrow, but will not be in the union territory because of her visit to Delhi. (PTI)
Update:
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief and Odisha's Chief Minister-designate Naveen Patnaik has said that the people of the state will choose his successor who will be from the party, All India Radio has reported.
West Bengal BJP to conduct workshop for newly elected MPs
The West Bengal BJP unit has decided to conduct a workshop and prepare a do's and dont's for the newly elected MPs, a senior party leader said yesterday.
"We will conduct a workshop with all the newly elected 18 MPs and prepare a do's and dont's for the newly elected MPs. We want to ensure that all the MP's utilise their MPLAD funds and reach out to the masses with the developmental policies of the Narendra Modi government," he said. (PTI)
