"Phase Two Too Good," asserts unwavering NDA backing: PM Modi

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi hails the support for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after the second phase of polling, citing it as a sign of voters' endorsement of NDA's governance
• Congress leader KC Venugopal dismisses Modi's '400 paar' ambition, claiming it has been undermined by the modest turnout in the first two phases, expressing confidence in the INDIA alliance's victory
• Election Commission's provisional figures reveal a lower voter turnout of 64.02% in the second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha election compared to 69.64% in 2019, with Kerala reporting a turnout of 70.21% for 20 constituencies

After the conclusion of the second phase of polling in the ongoing Lok Sabha election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), attributing the reduced voter turnout to unprecedented support for his coalition. In a tweet shared on Friday evening, PM Modi remarked, "Phase Two has been too good! The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more. Voters want NDA’s good governance. Youth and women voters are powering the strong NDA support."

However, contrasting Modi's optimism, Congress leader KC Venugopal, addressing a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, asserted that the NDA's ambitious target of '400 paar' (400-plus seats) had been dented by the modest turnout in the first two phases. Venugopal remarked, "PM Narendra Modi's '400 paar' hype has been crushed to the ground after the first and second phase of elections. INDIA alliance is definitely going to win this time. PM Modi's speech during the campaign has been an attempt to polarise the elections. Congress is very confident about winning with a high majority in Rajasthan, Bihar, and other states."

According to provisional figures released by the Election Commission, the voter turnout for the second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha election stood at 64.02%, lower than the 69.64% recorded in the corresponding phase in 2019. Additionally, the overall turnout for the ongoing election's first phase was 62.34%, reflecting a decline from the 69.43% turnout recorded in 2019. Notably, Kerala, where voting for 20 constituencies took place in a single phase, reported a turnout of 70.21%, with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) emerging victorious in 19 out of 20 seats during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.