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Laapata Ladies, Bridgerton and Heeramandi might have dominated the OTT cycle last month, but none of these dramas can hold a candle to the absolute thriller that unfolded during the Lok Sabha election cycle this year. While the parties scramble to decide their allegiances, most people are already convinced about a result familiar to the previous two general elections: <keyword id="20509939" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Modi-3-0" source="keywords">Modi 3.0</keyword>. However, the road to the end has proven anything but a bed of lotuses for the Bharatiya Janata Party (<keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords">BJP</keyword>). Despite staunch optimism of winning 400 out of 543 seats, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (<keyword id="19938590" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NDA" source="keywords">NDA</keyword>) managed to capture only 293 — a margin barely above the 272 seats majority, and dozens below their 2014 and 2019 standings. Then came the fact that the BJP, with only 240 seats won, would have to be supported by two major partner parties: the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal (United), if they wished to finalise a majority and form the next Lok Sabha. This meant that the ball currently remains in the courts of these two quintessential “Kingmakers”; will they keep their pre-poll promises to ensure the continuity of Mr Modi, or usurp him by joining the opposition <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="INDIA" source="keywords">INDIA</keyword> bloc? This mystery may linger not just this week, but throughout the term of the next government given the fickle nature of the Indian political system. As we move into the final few legs of this political marathon, the story has only taken a turn for the juicier. According to media reports, INDIA has now offered the position of Deputy Prime Minister to JD(U) Nitish Kumar and a special status to Andhra Pradesh (with TDP majority) if the parties align with the alliance and forsake their NDA partnership. If they agree, the INDIA-TDP-JD(U) coalition could overthrow BJP-NDA to form the government, making for the biggest <keyword id="21945335" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="political-plot-twist" source="keywords">political plot twist</keyword> in decades. While we wait for the historical gavel to drop, let’s take a look back at the other bombshells to have come out of the tallying process so far. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="BJP falls short of majority" comment="subhead" text="BJP falls short of majority">BJP falls short of majority</cmsannotation> Despite battle cries of ‘Abki baar 400 par’, the Modi-led party has failed to cross the required 272 seats necessary for a clear majority and stands far below their performances in 2014 and 2019. They are no longer self-sufficient enough to make a third term without the support from allies. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="BJP loses ground in Hindi Heartland" comment="subhead" text="BJP loses ground in Hindi Heartland">BJP loses ground in Hindi Heartland</cmsannotation> The northern states, which constitute a large section of the Hindi-speaking population, have been considered BJP’s biggest loyalists. Despite this, the party has faced unexpected stiff competition in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Haryana. These are crucial states for the BJP, as they hold a large number of seats and losing a majority of these seats has weakened their moral position. While some blame the loss on the anger of dominant castes in the region, others say that the party ignored these stronghold regions in pursuit of expansion to the east and south. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="NDA wins below 300 seats, far below landslide 400 predictions" comment="subhead" text="NDA wins below 300 seats, far below landslide 400 predictions">NDA wins below 300 seats, far below landslide 400 predictions</cmsannotation> Not only has BJP itself been unable to capture the required majority, their NDA coalition hasn’t even touched 300 Lok Sabha seats. This indicates a significant loss of public support compared to predictions. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="BJP loses Ram Temple Constituency" comment="subhead" text="BJP loses Ram Temple Constituency">BJP loses <keyword id="41267" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ram-temple" source="Orion">Ram Temple</keyword> Constituency</cmsannotation> Construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has been one of BJP’s most prominent election promises in the past two elections. Despite delivering on this front, the party has lost the Faizabad seat to Samajwadi Party candidate Awadhesh Prasad. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Lotus blooms down south" comment="subhead" text="Lotus blooms down south">Lotus blooms down south</cmsannotation> BJP opened its account for the first time in Kerala with a win for actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi at the Thrissur seat. In Telangana, both BJP and Congress put up a strong performance by winning eight seats each and sidelining the regional parties. However, for the BJP, Tamil Nadu was a disappointment as it failed to win even one seat despite immense push from all quarters. The party did manage to increase the vote share to double digits despite a lack of support from the regional parties. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="BJP wins all Delhi seats" comment="subhead" text="BJP wins all Delhi seats">BJP wins all Delhi seats</cmsannotation> Making a hat-trick, the BJP won all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi for the third time, beating the Congress-AAP alliance. <h3>Individual/Regional Politics</h3><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Rahul Gandhi wins two seats" comment="subhead" text="Rahul Gandhi wins two seats">Rahul Gandhi wins two seats</cmsannotation> After a risky contest for two seats in Kerala’s Wayanad and Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli, the Congress leader has won both by a massive margin. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Kangana Ranaut wins Himachal seat" comment="subhead" text="Kangana Ranaut wins Himachal seat"><keyword id="10343350" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kangana-ranaut-wins" source="Orion">Kangana Ranaut wins</keyword> Himachal seat</cmsannotation> The celebrity candidate’s debut resulted in a strong win for the Mandi seat for BJP. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Smriti Irani loses" comment="subhead" text="Smriti Irani loses">Smriti Irani loses</cmsannotation> Despite high expectations, Smriti Irani loses the Amethi seat by a large margin to Congress’ Kishori Lal Sharma. This is a high-profile defeat for a key BJP figure. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Shashi Tharoor faces a brief hiccup" comment="subhead" text="Shashi Tharoor faces a brief hiccup">Shashi Tharoor faces a brief hiccup</cmsannotation> Earlier trends had briefly indicated trouble for the recurrent Thiruvananthapuram MP. However, the tides turned quickly, handing Tharoor the win over Rajeev Chandrasekhar. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Former cricketer Yusuf Pathan wins" comment="subhead" text="Former cricketer Yusuf Pathan wins">Former cricketer Yusuf Pathan wins</cmsannotation> Stepping up to politics for the first time, cricketer turned politician Yusuf Pathan won West Bengal’s Baharampur seat for the Trinamool Congress. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Jailed pro-Khalistani candidate victorious in Punjab" comment="subhead" text="Jailed pro-Khalistani candidate victorious in Punjab">Jailed pro-Khalistani candidate victorious in Punjab</cmsannotation> Amritpal Singh, a notable Khalistan supporter and independent candidate clinched the Khadoor Sahib seat from jail in Punjab. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Sexual assault-accused Prajwal Revanna pulls considerable vote share" comment="subhead" text="Sexual assault-accused Prajwal Revanna pulls considerable vote share">Sexual assault-accused Prajwal Revanna pulls considerable vote share</cmsannotation> Despite a final win by Congress candidate Shreyas M. Patel in Karnataka’s Hassan constituency, JD(U)’s Prajwal Revanna garnered 46.5% of the total votes. This has occurred despite being in police custody and having a massive sexual assault case lodged against the candidate. <h3>Other notable events</h3><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Indore sets record for highest NOTA voters" comment="subhead" text="Indore sets record for highest NOTA voters">Indore sets record for highest NOTA voters</cmsannotation> Controversy had earlier erupted in Indore after Congress candidate Akshya Kanti Bam deferred to BJP shortly before the voting process had begun. In response, over 2 lakh voters placed their bets on ‘None of the Above’, expressing dissatisfaction with the choices presented to them. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Stock market falls by COVID-19 levels" comment="subhead" text="Stock market falls by COVID-19 levels">Stock market falls by COVID-19 levels</cmsannotation> Anticipating an easy win and stable third term for Modi, the Indian stock surged right before the election. However, government uncertainty later on spurred the Nifty and BSE Sensex indices to crash by as much as 8.5%.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Biggest shockers to come out of the thrilling election results

<keyword id="58371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Udhayanidhi-Stalin" source="Orion">Udhayanidhi Stalin</keyword>, <keyword id="15780289" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="son-of-Chief-Minister-M-K-Stalin" source="Orion">son of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin</keyword> was sworn-in as a minister in his father's cabinet on Wednesday. <keyword id="20154" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu" source="Orion">Tamil Nadu</keyword> Governor R.N. Ravi administered the oath office to him. The swearing-in ceremony was held at Durbar Hall and was attended by several dignitaries. All senior ministers of the <keyword id="60930" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="stalin" source="Orion">Stalin</keyword> cabinet were present during the ceremony. The junior Stalin took the oath of office in Tamil. Udhayanidhi will be the third generation from the Karunanidhi family to become a minister in Tamil Nadu after his late grandfather 'Kalaignar' Karunanidhi and father M.K. Stalin. Udhayanidhi, a movie actor and producer was elected from the Chepauk Assembly constituency which was represented by his late grandfather, Kalaignar Karunanidhi in the 2021 Assembly elections with a huge majority. The young scion of the Karunanidhi family is likely to get the Sports and Youth Affairs portfolio along with the portfolio of programme implementation. With Tamil Nadu moving ahead in implementing several sports hubs, Udhayanidhi is likely to get the responsibility in implementing this. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/us-to-issue-64716-additional-h-2b-visas-for-fiscal-year-2023/articleshow/96214720.cms" style="">US to issue 64,716 additional H-2B visas for fiscal year 2023</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/indias-jet-set-heres-how-billionaires-earned-lost-and-donated-in-2022/articleshow/96206744.cms" style="">India’s jet-set: Here’s how billionaires earned, lost and donated in 2022</a>

Udhayanidhi Stalin sworn-in as minister in Tamil Nadu

The tallies for each constituency are in, and the arithmetic for the next government is being worked out. If the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (<keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords">BJP</keyword>) manages to hold onto their alliances, the stage will be set for Modi 3.0. However, if the Congress-led INDIA bloc somehow lures major parties like JD(U) and TDP, they might have a chance, though it is a long shot at the moment. However, with the results out for all 543 constituencies, much has been revealed about the general attitude of the country’s voters. For instance, despite the almost-unshakable belief that the BJP will sweep almost all 80 <keyword id="19894922" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uttar-Pradesh" source="keywords">Uttar Pradesh</keyword> seats — especially after the Ram Mandir inauguration — the party shockingly only managed to win only 33. Some experts speculate that this outcome came from the party failing to address core issues such as employment and economic anxiety, and instead choosing to focus on religious divide to win ballots. Expert institutions, such as Bernstein and Citi Research, have now noted that new spendings may now thus become focused on the poor, women, farmers and rural areas, especially considering how rapidly BJP’s <a href="https://bfsi.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/bias-of-markets-expected-rural-agriculture-to-be-the-new-focus-areas-reports/110728041">vote share has dropped in the rural seats</a>. For context, rural constituencies make up 60% of the total constituencies in India, according to The Economic Times. However, this is not to say that the party has clear favourites among the more developed and richer states either. Many of the richest Indian states have expressed mixed to lukewarm reactions towards BJP this election cycle, and even delivered unexpected shockers. For instance, the NDA lost a lot of ground in Uttar Pradesh, <keyword id="19897316" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra" source="keywords">Maharashtra</keyword> and Rajasthan — some states with the biggest economies in the country. As for the current scenario, the party favourite remains mixed. Considering that the country has delayed the National Survey by four years, we have to rely on independent sources to come up with more current state-wide economic statistics. Therefore, as per the India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra), <keyword id="19896017" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Karnataka" source="keywords">Karnataka</keyword>, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat formed the five largest state economies in India in the 2023 Financial Year. Let’s take a look at how India’s wealthiest states voted in <keyword id="20886626" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-2024" source="keywords">Lok Sabha 2024</keyword>. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Karnataka" comment="subhead" text="Karnataka">Karnataka</cmsannotation> Despite struggles with making headway in the South, the BJP had made a clean sweep in Karnataka, bagging 25 seats in the 2019 general elections. While the BJP-JD(S) alliance has managed to retain a majority in the southern state with 17 seats, <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Congress" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Congress">Congress</keyword> made an impressive comeback this year, winning 9 seats compared to the 1 in the last election cycle. JD(S) managed to capture the remaining two seats. As for the four Bengaluru constituencies, BJP managed to cling onto all of them as well, with Tejasvi Surya in Bengaluru South, Shobha Karandlaje in Bengaluru North, P. C. Mohan in Bengaluru Central and C. N. Manjunath in Bengaluru Rural. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Uttar Pradesh" comment="subhead" text="Uttar Pradesh">Uttar Pradesh</cmsannotation> As mentioned earlier, the biggest controversies came out of Uttar Pradesh. Housing prominent figures such as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state has been widely considered as a stronghold for the saffron party, who had won a whopping 62 seats in 2019. However, resident voters were determined to take to the booths to voice their dissent this year. Of the 80 UP constituencies — by far the state with the largest number of seats — 37 were won by the Samajwadi Party. Meanwhile, the BJP held onto 33 seats, and the INC 6. The difference is stark: BJP lost 27 of the seats it won in the previous election cycle. Many prominent figures were dethroned this year, including Smriti Irani in Amethi, Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra in Kheri and Maneka Gandhi in Sultanpur. However, perhaps the biggest shocker came from the fact that the BJP also lost the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat, which housed the contentious Ram Temple. Awadesh Prasad of the Samajwadi Party will be chairing the constituency for the next five years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, contested for the Varanasi seat, beating INC’s Ajay Rai by a margin of 2.5 lakh votes. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Maharashtra" comment="subhead" text="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</cmsannotation> Another of the biggest losses for the BJP also saw a resurgence for Congress in the state with the highest <keyword id="35050" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gdp" source="Orion">GDP</keyword>. While the NDA had clinched 41 out of the 48 seats in the previous 2019 elections, it managed to bag a paltry 9 this time around. While this is a monumental loss for the ruling party, they managed to hold firmly onto most of the coastal Konkan belt. Headed by the Mahayuti alliance, the BJP won 7 of the 12 coastal seats, including in Palghar, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg and Mumbai North. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT) maintained its hold on half of the six Mumbai constituencies. Of the four Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) seats, NCP (SP) won Bhiwandi, Shinde-led Shiv Sena won Thane and Kalyan and BJP won Palghar. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Tamil Nadu" comment="subhead" text="Tamil Nadu">Tamil Nadu</cmsannotation> Of all the economic powerhouses, Tamil Nadu was the only state untouched by the BJP this year. Out of the 39 seats in the state, the MK Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) came out victorious in 22, the INC won 9, while a coalition of other parties bagged the remaining seats. This was a massive win for the DMK, especially considering the two major opposition parties, the AIADMK and BJP, had come together to contest this year. Considered by many as BJP's most promising candidate, K Annamalai, too lost to DMK’s Ganapathi P Rajkumar in Coimbatore. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Gujarat" comment="subhead" text="Gujarat">Gujarat</cmsannotation> While most of the other states endured major plot-twists, the story has remained almost the same for Narendra Modi’s home state, Gujarat. As per final polls, the BJP won 25 of the total 26 seats in the state, falling short of a full clean sweep due to INC clutching the final one. However, the INC win in the Banaskantha Lok Sabha seat was no small victory, considering this was the first time in a decade that the party had made ground in the western state. Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah contested and won from state capital Gandhinagar by a massive margin of nearly 7.5 lakh votes.

Lok Sabha 2024: How BJP, Congress and other parties have performed in states with largest economies in India

Chennai, Tamil Nadu's ruling <keyword id="19897149" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dmk" source="keywords">DMK</keyword>, a key constituent of the INDIA bloc, in its manifesto released on Wednesday promised to repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 if the opposition alliance wins the <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> polls. Restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and holding polls there, scrapping the New Education Policy 2020, slashing fuel prices, annulling Article 361 of the Constitution that provides protection to governors from legal action and appointment of Governors following consultation with Chief Ministers, were among the key promises made by the DMK. The recommendations of the M S Swaminathan committee will be adopted to ensure that MSP for agricultural products "is set at total production cost plus 50 per cent," the DMK said. Also, it announced that if voted to power, the INDIA bloc will withdraw the Agnipath scheme and reintroduce "permanent recruitment service" in the Indian Armed forces. "From now on, population census, including caste-wise census and census concerning people below the poverty line, will be conducted by the Union government once every five years simultaneously." The DMK will firmly insist on the removal of Article 356, which allows the dismissal of duly elected state governments and imposition of President's rule. The Congress party's ally in Tamil Nadu said that "new constraints" on States' borrowing capacity, imposed by the union government beyond the limits in each state's FRBM-equivalent Act will be eliminated. "A recommendation to share cess revenues with states will be made. It will be proposed that the Finance Commission increase the horizontal devolution of tax revenue (to all States together) from 42 per cent to 50 per cent." The Union government's financial contributions to states will be based on the income tax and GST collected in those states. Thus, financial contributions will be assured based on the taxes collected within each state. The finance provided to states will be permanently determined based on the 1971 population. A 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and legislative assemblies will be implemented immediately. "DMK will insist that the Union government enact a law providing menstrual leave to women, emphasizing the journey towards gender equality." Petrol and diesel prices "will be set at Rs 75, Rs 65 (per litre)" and cooking gas cylinders shall be made available at Rs 500 (per cylinder). "The introduction of the Uniform Civil Code will be strictly prevented" to preserve India's secular nature as stated in the Constitution's preamble. "The 2019 CAA law will be repealed, and all minorities will be treated equally without any discrimination. The recommendations of the Sachar Committee for the improvement of the lives of Muslims and other minority communities will be implemented." Facilitation will be provided for <keyword id="21027983" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sri-lankan-tamil" source="keywords">Sri Lankan Tamil</keyword> refugees to get Indian citizenship. Assistance will be provided to those who wish to return to Sri Lanka. Also, the manifesto said efforts will be made to implement reservation for minorities at the all-India level, similar to Tamil Nadu. "The financial assistance previously provided to minority educational institutions has now been stopped. Action will be taken to resume this assistance." For "political" reasons, funding from foreign countries to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has currently been stopped. "The Foreign Exchange Regulation Act will be properly amended, and measures will be taken to ensure these financial aids continue to reach NGOs without any problems." The proposal of 'One Nation, One Election' will be abandoned, and for the allocation of Lok Sabha seats to states, the current practice, based on the 1971 census will continue. All "people-unfriendly" laws introduced by the BJP government over the last 10 years will be reviewed immediately by the INDIA alliance government. The "labour-hostile laws" introduced by the BJP government will be "reformed." Through the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF), the Union government will ensure a minimum pension of Rs 5,000 per month. The number of working days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act will be increased from 100 to 150 days. "A wage of Rs 400 will be provided across states/ union territories nationwide." Disbanding the current NITI Aayog, set up by the BJP regime and establishing again the Planning Commission to draft plans based on the requests of state governments is another assurance the DMK has made. "Measures will be taken to reclaim Kachchatheevu to ensure India's security and to protect the welfare of the fishermen." A mandatory "cooling-off period" of 2 years will be introduced for retired judges and secretaries before they could join private companies or political parties, the manifesto said. Waiving loans and interests for farmers in nationalised and scheduled banks, waiver of educational loans for students, monthly entitlement of Rs 1,000 for all women in every state and formation of <keyword id="21027984" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="state-development-council" source="keywords">State Development Council</keyword> by including Chief Ministers were among the promises made by the DMK. Exemption for Tamil Nadu from the NEET exam and complete removal of toll booths on national highways, forms part of poll promises of the Dravidian party. Further, the DMK said amendments will be made to relevant laws to ensure that state governments, elected by the people, appoint Vice-Chancellors to state-run universities, rather than Governors. Stopping government's divestment from public sector enterprises, implementing the Sethusamudram project, law to ban online gambling, setting up a <keyword id="19895345" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="supreme-court" source="keywords">Supreme Court</keyword> branch in Chennai, providing statehood for <keyword id="19901639" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="puducherry" source="keywords">Puducherry</keyword>, equal funding for all state languages including Tamil, were among the host of other promises made by the DMK. Establishment of Tamil departments in varsities and stopping construction of <keyword id="19950851" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mekedatu" source="keywords">Mekedatu</keyword> dam were also promised by the DMK. "The <keyword id="19996334" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vishwakarma-scheme" source="keywords">Vishwakarma Scheme</keyword>, introduced by the BJP government to encourage caste-based occupations, will be restructured on the basis of social justice."

DMK vows to repeal CAA if INDIA bloc is voted to power

<ul><li><keyword id="6264434" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Makkal-Needhi-Maiam">Makkal Needhi Maiam</keyword> (MNM), headed by actor-turned-politician <keyword id="6354603" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="kamal-haasan">Kamal Haasan</keyword>, contested from 142 constituencies.</li><li>While Haasan has been in the lead since morning, he eventually lost to BJP candidate Vanathi Srinivasan by little less than 900 votes. </li><li>Haasan’s party won a vote share of 3.72% during the last Lok Sabha elections in 2019 but this time at has been much worse.</li></ul>Kamal Haasan's political gamble has failed to pay off one more time. Makkal Needhi Maiyam (MNM) was leading in only one seat, Coimbatore South, where Haasan himself is the candidate. However, by the end of the counting, that was lost too. Vanathi Srinivasan from <keyword id="58687" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Janata-Party">Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP), who is also the national head of the saffron party's women's wing, has won Coimbatore South by a margin of little less 900 votes, according to Electin Commission data at 9:30 pm. After registering a new regional political party in <keyword id="20154" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword> named as Makkal Needhi Maiam in February, 2018, the actor-cum-producer Kamal Haasan made a debut in the Lok Sabha election campaign of 2019, for the first time. Haasan did not contest, though. This time, for the state Assembly polls, he has taken a bet on himself. While pollsters never gave the party a winning chance in any constituency, Haasan himself was hoping to send as many candidates as possible to the new legislative assembly that will form post elections. However, not a single candidate from the party or the alliance managed to win. Makkal Needhi Maiam in 2021 <keyword id="6372146" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="assembly-elections">assembly elections</keyword> The election commission has allotted the symbol of ‘torchlight’ for the party and the party’s abbreviated name reads as MNM. Haasan has joined hands with four other smaller parties to face the election. As per the terms of the alliance, the brigade has assumed the name Makkalin Mudhal Kootani and contested from 227 constituencies. Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), headed by Haasan, contested from 142 constituencies. Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK) founded by T.R. Paarivendhar faced the electorate from 40 constituencies. All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) under the leadership of actor <keyword id="1589629" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="R-Sarathkumar">R. Sarathkumar</keyword> fought from 33 seats. Tamilaga Makkal Jananayaga Katchi (TMJK) led by K.M. Shareef faced the elections in 9 seats and Janata Dal (Secular) JD(S) headed by H.D. Deva Gowda contested from 3 constituencies. Key persons of the party facing elections Dr. Mahendran contested from Singanallur constituency. Dr. Santhosh Babu, a former Indian Administrative Service (<keyword id="46130" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="IAS">IAS</keyword>) officer was fielded from the Velachery constituency. He faced AIADMK and Congress representatives in these seats. Actor Sripriya fought from Mylapore, locking horns with T. Velu of the DMK and former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and incumbent R. Natraj of the AIADMK party. Senior politician Pazha. Karuppiah fought from T. Nagar constituency. However, none of the other party members or the alliance members were able to make a mark in the election. MNM’s performance in last Lok Sabha elections Haasan’s party won a vote share of 3.72% during the last Lok sabha elections. This feat was achieved only when the party was just 14 months old. This achievement was said to have ensued from Kamal’s popularity among a sizeable segment of the urban voters. In Coimbatore, his party candidate R.Mahendran bagged 1.45 lakh votes. Hassan’s party secured over 1 lakh votes in three of the four seats in Chennai. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/gadgets/news/exclusive-asus-rog-flow-x13-companys-portable-2-in-1-gaming-laptop-will-launch-in-india-on-may-12/articleshow/82322142.cms">Exclusive: Asus ROG Flow X13 — company’s portable 2-in-1 gaming laptop will launch in India on May 12</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/instagram-live-is-now-a-clubhouse-competitor-with-options-to-mute-and-turn-off-the-video/articleshow/82323741.cms">Instagram Live is now a Clubhouse competitor, with options to mute and turn off the video</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/covid-vaccines-may-take-up-to-5-months-to-reach-private-centres-governments-say-slots-for-all-adults-may-open-only-after-2-3-weeks/articleshow/82326681.cms">COVID vaccines may take up to 5 months to reach private centres — governments say slots for all adults may open only after 2-3 weeks</a>

Kamal Haasan has lost to BJP's Vanathi Srinivasan by a narrow margin ⁠— his party is out on a duck

The DMK's rising sun gets a chance to shine in Tamil Nadu after a decade of waiting ⁠— MK Stalin will be the next Chief Minister

The contentious issue surrounding <keyword id="21140208" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="katchatheevu" source="keywords">Katchatheevu</keyword>, a tiny island relinquished to <keyword id="19931726" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sri-lanka" source="keywords">Sri Lanka</keyword> by the Indian government in 1974, has jumped back to being a focal point of debate in Indian politics. The Tamil Nadu <keyword id="14666" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="Orion">BJP</keyword> chief K Annamalai’s RTI application unearthed official documents and records about the island’s ownership. Now, Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword>'s recent remarks against the <keyword id="1575" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="congress" source="Orion">Congress</keyword> and its ally <keyword id="6357766" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="DMK" source="Orion">DMK</keyword> have reignited discussions on this matter, thrusting it into the spotlight just days before the general election in Tamil Nadu on April 19. <div type="twitter" handle="narendramodi" handlename="narendramodi" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1774636476506223045"></div> But what exactly is at the heart of this issue and why does it carry such significance? Below, we attempt to answer some commonly asked questions to shed light on this complex matter: <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What is Katchatheevu and why is it important?" comment="subhead" text="What is Katchatheevu and why is it important?"><keyword id="21143539" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="what-is-katchatheevu" source="Orion">What is Katchatheevu</keyword> and why is it important?</cmsannotation> Katchatheevu, spanning roughly 1.9 square kilometres, occupies a strategic position in the <keyword id="525279" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Palk-Strait" source="Orion">Palk Strait</keyword> between India and Sri Lanka, situated a mere 20 kilometres from the Indian coastline. Serving as a crucial link between the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, this island holds pivotal importance in connecting the Bay of Bengal with the Arabian Sea. Recent geopolitical shifts, including China's expanding presence in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, have further underscored the strategic significance of Katchatheevu. Despite its strategic value, however, Katchatheevu is not conducive to permanent habitation due to the absence of a reliable source of drinking water on the island as well as erratic weather patterns. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="How did Katchatheevu become a part of Sri Lanka?" comment="subhead" text="How did Katchatheevu become a part of Sri Lanka?">How did Katchatheevu become a part of Sri Lanka?</cmsannotation> Following its independence, Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon) asserted control over Katchatheevu, contending that the Indian Navy required its authorisation to conduct exercises in the area. Tensions escalated when, in 1955, the Ceylon Air Force conducted exercises on the island, indicating a degree of control over the territory. In 1960, India's Attorney General MC Setalvad argued for India's stronger historical claim to Katchatheevu, citing zamindari rights granted by the East India Company to the Raja of Ramnad. Despite these claims, suspicions arose in 1968 regarding potential secret negotiations between Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her Sri Lankan counterpart Dudley Senanayake. These developments ultimately led to India conceding Sri Lanka's claim to Katchatheevu following talks in Colombo in 1974. A 2015 RTI response from the Ministry of External Affairs revealed that Katchatheevu Island falls within the territorial jurisdiction of Sri Lanka, as delineated by the 1974 Agreement demarcating the India-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line. “This did not involve either acquiring or ceding of territory belonging to India since the area in question had never been demarcated. Under the Agreements, the Island of Katchatheevu lies on the Sri Lankan side of the India-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line,” the RTI reply said. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What’s the issue that has persisted?" comment="subhead" text="What’s the issue that has persisted?">What’s the issue that has persisted?</cmsannotation> During a recent press conference, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. <keyword id="236448" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jaishankar" source="Orion">Jaishankar</keyword> elaborated on the enduring implications of the longstanding dispute between India and Sri Lanka. He told the press: “In 1974, India and Sri Lanka drew a maritime boundary and Katchatheevu island went to the Sri Lankan side. This agreement had three other clauses: First, each country shall have exclusive sovereignty, jurisdiction and control over the waters; second, Indian fishermen will continue to access Katchatheevu without having to obtain travel documents; Third, vessels of India and Sri Lanka will enjoy in each other’s waters as they traditionally have.” He further informed that two years later, another agreement was signed between the two countries, with India proposing the following: “With the establishment of Exclusive Economic Zones by the two countries, India and Sri Lanka will exercise sovereign rights on the living and non-living resources in their respective zones. The fishing vessels and fishermen of India shall not engage in the historic waters, the territorial sea and the exclusive zone of Sri Lanka.” Jaikshankar pointed out that the agreement in 1976 took away the assurances given in 1974, which has since led to the detention of 6,184 Indian fishermen and the confiscation of over a thousand fishing vessels by Sri Lankan authorities. In summary, the issue surrounding Katchatheevu continues to be a contentious political topic, with historical agreements and geopolitical dynamics still shaping its trajectory.

Katchatheevu: All you need to know about the latest political hotspot’s history, significance, current issues and more

<keyword id="20154" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword> <keyword id="14666" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> President L. <keyword id="211390" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Murugan">Murugan</keyword> is ahead of his DMK rival N.Kayalvizhi in the Dharapuram constituency, as per the Election Commission of India data. Similarly BJP's M.Bhojarajan (Udhagamandalam), Nainar Nagenthran (Tirunelveli) and Vinoj P. Selvam (Harbour) are in the lead. On the other hand, Tamil Nadu Vice President K. Annamalai, a former <keyword id="78965" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Police-Service">Indian Police Service</keyword> (IPS) officer is trailing behind his DMK rival R. Elango in the Aravakuruchi constituency. Other notable faces of the BJP in the state who are trailing are H.Raja in Karaikudi, Vanathi Srinivasan in Coimbatore (South) and Kushboo Sundar in Thousand Lights seat. The BJP contested in 20 seats in the Assembly election held on April 6 and is leading in four perhaps due to its Vetri Vel Yatra and other actions, say political commentators. The Vetri Vel Yatra was taken by state BJP chief L. Murugan demanding action against the YouTube channel Karuppar Koottam for its obscene video about Tamil God Murugan and the prayer Kanda Shasti Kavacham sung in his praise. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/check-out-leading-candidates-list-in-west-bengal-election-results-2021/articleshow/82353323.cms">West Bengal election results 2021: Trinamool Congress takes a comfortable lead against BJP as per EC trends</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/bjp-candidate-annamalai-from-result-in-tamilnadu-state-election-2021/articleshow/82353177.cms">Tamil Nadu assembly elections 2021: BJP candidate Annamalai hopes to reap the fruits of his hard work at Aravakurichi</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/assam-assembly-election-result-2021-nda-vs-upa-vote-share-and-final-seat-tally/articleshow/82350921.cms">Assam Assembly election 2021: UPA seems to double its seat tally but that's not good enough to BJP's Himanta Biswa Sarma</a>

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