As the results of India's Lok Sabha elections unfold, it has become clear that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will not be able to form a government alone, having lost its majority. This has created a potential opening for the Congress-led India alliance to make a bid for power.

According to the latest results, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is leading in 290 seats while the India alliance is ahead in 235 seats. To form a government, a party or coalition needs 272 seats in the 543-seat Lok Sabha. The BJP is currently leading in 239 seats. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by Chandrababu Naidu is ahead in 16 seats, and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal United (JDU) is leading in 12 seats, totaling 28 seats combined.

Given the tight numbers, the support of TDP and JDU is crucial for any party to secure a majority. The India alliance is actively courting these two parties to join their coalition. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have hinted at discussions with both Naidu and Nitish to potentially bring them into the India alliance.

Rahul Gandhi mentioned that a decision regarding the alliance with TDP and JDU would be made in a meeting scheduled for tomorrow. This sentiment was echoed by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who stressed the importance of these negotiations.

Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar are seasoned politicians known for their strategic shifts between alliances. Their parties have previously allied with both the BJP and Congress, making their current allegiance flexible. Despite their pre-election alliance with the BJP, there is speculation that they could switch sides based on post-election scenarios.

The India alliance is leveraging the experience of veterans like Sharad Pawar, who is actively engaging with potential partners. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a key figure in the India alliance, has also signaled openness to expanding the coalition.

As the BJP struggles to secure a majority, the Congress-led India alliance is making strategic moves to capitalize on the situation. The outcome hinges on the decisions of key players like Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar, whose support could tip the balance in favor of the India alliance.