How Will 200+ Seats Shape The INDIA Bloc's Future?

The counting trends on Tuesday showed the Congress-led INDIA alliance securing 220 seats in the Lok Sabha, nearly doubling its previous tally of 119. This significant gain not only boosts the alliance's morale but also enhances its ability to counter the government as a pressure group in Parliament.

"It looks like not only a political defeat but a moral defeat for the Prime Minister," said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh. The National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) failure to secure a two-thirds majority may impede its ability to push for constitutional amendments, which require support from a majority of states and a two-thirds majority in both Houses.

The lack of a two-thirds majority could also derail the BJP's 'one nation, one election' plan. Mohammad Khan, a Congress activist and Supreme Court lawyer, stated, "The one nation, one election plan would require a constitutional amendment because you'll have to dissolve several governments which are not even midway to their term like Telangana and Karnataka."

Upamanyu Hazarika, another constitutional expert, added, "It will be very difficult for the government to push big-ticket amendments to the Constitution."

The Congress, which has not had the Leader of Opposition status for the past decade, stands to gain significantly. This position brings additional privileges and more chairmanships of parliamentary committees, enhancing the party's supervisory power over the government.

The INDIA alliance's improved seat count could shift the balance of power in key parliamentary panels, allowing the opposition to effectively oversee the government's work. This development marks a crucial turning point for the Congress and its allies in their efforts to hold the ruling party accountable.