Chandrababu Naidu to hold Press conference as INDIA bloc tries to woo BJP allies

New Delhi, June 5: Telegu Desam Party Chief Chandrababu Naidu who has emerged as the kingmaker in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is scheduled to hold a Press conference in Delhi today.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu are scheduled to arrive in Delhi today as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the INDIA alliance vie for coalition partners to form a government.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has secured a third term, but the BJP will need to rely on the support of other parties in his coalition - JD (U) chief Nitish Kumar and TDP's chief Chandrababu Naidu, falling 32 seats short of the 272 majority mark - a stunning blow for the PM, who had hoped for a landslide victory '400 paar'.

For the first time, since the Bharatiya Janata Party swept to power in 2014, it did not secure a majority on its own --- far fewer than the record 303 it won in the 2019 election.

Emphasizing their alliance's role in securing victory in the state, the TDP Chief extended his wishes to PM Modi in a post on X, stating "Thank you, @narendramodi Ji! On behalf of the people of Andhra Pradesh, I congratulate you on the NDA's victory in the Lok Sabha and Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections. The people of Andhra Pradesh have given us a remarkable mandate, reflecting their trust in our alliance and its vision for the state. Together with our people, we will rebuild Andhra Pradesh and restore its glory."

Both the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA and the Opposition INDIA bloc are set to hold meetings on Wednesday to chalk out strategies for future courses of political action.

The NDA leaders will meet at Prime Minister Modi's residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg today.

The meeting is scheduled to take place at around 3:30 pm. Key leaders like Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and former Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu are expected to attend the NDA meeting.

The final count for the Lok Sabha 2024 elections concluded on Tuesday, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) winning 240 seats, far fewer than had been expected, however, prevailing over the Opposition, Congress, which won 99 seats improving its tally from 52 in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.