How PM Modi Secured Historic Third Term In 2024, Defying Global Anti-Incumbency Wave

Last Updated:December 30, 2024, 18:05 IST

Narendra Modi's third-term victory defied global anti-incumbency trends and went on to show India's stability amidst international political turbulence.

PM Modi’s leadership ensured India's steady rise as a global power, driven by reforms and innovation. (IMAGE: PTI FILE)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic third win in the 2024 elections not only reinforces his personal legacy but also reflects the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) dominance in Indian polity. It shows that today PM Modi has become the symbol of stability for India while BJP has emerged as a party synonymous with good governance.

In 2024, a global wave of anti-incumbency swept through major democracies, with incumbents facing significant defeats. In the United States, Democrats lost the presidency and control of both houses of Congress. The UK saw the Conservative Party (Tories) decisively ousted from power. Similarly, in France, South Korea, and Poland, ruling parties were unseated. Contrasting this global trend, Narendra Modi in India not only retained power but did so with a historic third term. Following his clear victories in 2014 and 2019, the Indian electorate once again gave Modi a strong mandate, showcasing a remarkable exception to the international anti-incumbency wave.

The year 2024 marked some of BJP’s biggest victories under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. PM Modi secured a historic third term. This achievement is significant in India’s political history, as no other leader has won a third consecutive term since 1962.

Stable Leadership in an Unstable World

Since 2014, India has stood out as a beacon of political stability under the leadership of Narendra Modi, who has remained in power for over a decade. This continuity is notable, especially when compared to the political turbulence experienced by other democracies during the same period.

Modi’s tenure has been marked by a cohesive government that has implemented far-reaching economic, social, and foreign policy initiatives, contributing to India’s rise as a global power.

In contrast, the United States has witnessed a series of dramatic political shifts. Starting with Barack Obama’s presidency until 2017, the baton then passed to Donald Trump, who introduced starkly different policies and a more isolationist stance. In 2021, Joe Biden reversed many of Trump’s key policies, emphasizing multilateralism and domestic investment. The return of Donald Trump to power has brought about another pivot in governance, reflecting deep partisan divides and policy volatility.

The United Kingdom has endured significant political instability since 2014. Under the Conservative Party, leadership changed frequently, with David Cameron resigning post-Brexit referendum, followed by Theresa May, who grappled with Brexit negotiations. Boris Johnson then assumed power, leading during the COVID-19 pandemic but eventually resigning amid scandals. Liz Truss’s brief and tumultuous tenure was followed by Rishi Sunak, who sought to stabilize the economy and party. Recently, Keir Starmer of the Labour Party became Prime Minister, marking a shift in governance, though challenges remain, including internal party disagreements and an electorate weary of political strife.

Australia has also seen a rapid turnover in leadership, reflecting its historically volatile political culture. Beginning with Tony Abbott in 2014, the prime ministership passed to Malcolm Turnbull, then Scott Morrison, and now Anthony Albanese. Each transition has brought shifts in priorities, with Albanese focusing on climate action and social policies after a more conservative approach under his predecessors.

Italy’s political scene has been equally dynamic, with successive governments often collapsing before completing their terms. Matteo Renzi’s reform-driven tenure gave way to Paolo Gentiloni, followed by Giuseppe Conte’s coalition government, Mario Draghi’s technocratic leadership, and now Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s first female prime minister. Despite Meloni’s historic win, Italy continues to grapple with political fragmentation and economic challenges.

Pakistan, in particular, exemplifies political instability, with a pattern of frequent leadership changes often marred by accusations of corruption and electoral fraud. Since 2014, the country has seen transitions from Nawaz Sharif to Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, followed by Imran Khan, and now Shehbaz Sharif. Each leader’s tenure has been marked by a contentious relationship with their predecessors, often culminating in legal battles and imprisonment. This volatile political environment has stymied Pakistan’s ability to achieve consistent governance and economic progress.

Israel has experienced significant political turbulence, particularly due to its fractured coalition system. Since 2014, the country has seen Benjamin Netanyahu lose power to Naftali Bennett, followed by a brief tenure of Yair Lapid, only for Netanyahu to return as prime minister. Since 2014, Israel has conducted six national elections for the Knesset, the country’s parliament. These elections took place in 2015, April 2019, September 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

While Japan is known for relative political stability, its leadership changes in recent years have raised eyebrows. Shinzo Abe, who served as prime minister until 2020, resigned unexpectedly due to health reasons. He was succeeded by Yoshihide Suga, who stepped down after just a year in office, and Fumio Kishida who was Prime Minister for just 3 years amidst great uncertainty and has now been succeeded by Shigeru Ishiba

Since 2014, Brazil has faced political upheaval driven by economic crises, corruption scandals, and polarized elections. Dilma Rousseff was impeached in 2016, paving the way for Michel Temer, who served a controversial term. Jair Bolsonaro then came to power, adopting a far-right populist stance. Recently, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva returned to office after a polarizing election.

In South Korea, Park Geun-hye was impeached in 2017 amid massive corruption allegations. Her successor, Moon Jae-in, struggled with economic challenges and diplomatic tensions. Yoon Suk-yeol is the current president, recently declared martial law unsuccessfully and is in the process of being impeached by the parliament of South Korea.

Argentina since 2014 has seen notable changes, with leadership shifting from Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to Mauricio Macri, followed by Alberto Fernández, and now Javier Milei. Each leader has adopted markedly different economic and social policies, contributing to a landscape of uncertainty and frequent political realignments.

What Makes Indian General Elections 2024 Historic?

The 2024 election showcased India as a resilient democracy, marked by robust voter engagement and civil conduct.Despite motivated attacks on EVMs, and extreme heat, people displayed great enthusiasm by turning out to vote in large numbers. From first-time voters to senior citizens, people of all ages, and from all walks of life have participated in the democratic process with great zeal.Kashmir also recorded the highest poll participation for the first time in the last 3 decades since 1996 at 38%.Indian politics saw greater inclusivity as more women contested and won elections, strengthening gender representation. Youth participation also increased significantly, bringing fresh perspectives to the nation’s political landscape.The 2024 elections showcased India’s democratic maturity, highlighting how citizens are increasingly aware of their priorities and expectations from their leaders. People stood solidly behind the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.For the first time the largest-ever group of international delegates experienced India’s General Elections firsthand this year. They were impressed by what they saw. Some praised the transparency of the process, while others found the Election Commission’s initiatives, like the Green Polling Stations, truly inspiring. The use of technology, such as the randomization of EVM-VVPATs, also received a lot of appreciation.This mandate was for Development, Diversity & Decisiveness. People have out rightly rejected the politics of Deception, Deceit and Division.India has demonstrated that it is mature democracy and placed PM Modi among a select group of global leaders who have successfully secured three consecutive terms in office.

Apart from this, 2024 also saw state-level successes showing that they are part of a broader shift in India’s political landscape that began in 2014. Under PM Modi’s leadership, the BJP has expanded its influence, bringing cohesive governance to regions like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra—areas where the BJP had struggled to gain traction in the past.

Let’s look at some of the decisive BJP wins in the year 2024 and what makes them unique:

Lord Jagannath’s Odisha Goes the Saffron Way

Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the BJP secured a historic victory in Odisha, defeating the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD). For the first time in Odisha’s history, the BJD has lost its dominance in the Lok Sabha elections, with the BJP increasing its seats from just 1 to 6. This marks a significant shift from 2019, where the BJD won 12 seats and the BJP 8. In addition to its success in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP also made significant strides in the Odisha Assembly elections. The party won 14 seats and was leading in 66 other constituencies.

Andhra Pradesh Chooses NDA Decisively

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, despite Andhra Pradesh’s strong regional political identity, the Democratic Alliance made significant strides, leading in 20 out of the 25 parliamentary constituencies. This remarkable achievement reflects the growing support for the NDA’s vision and policies. PM Modi’s leadership has been pivotal in this success, with his focus on infrastructure development, economic reforms, and social welfare programs resonating with voters across the state.

Haryana Rings a Surprise for BJP

The 2024 Haryana Assembly election results have marked a significant milestone for the Bharatiya Janata Party, as they secured a historic third consecutive term in office. BJP has become the first political party in Haryana to achieve this hat-trick, a testament to its growing influence and stronghold in the state. Despite facing fierce opposition from the Congress and other political parties, the BJP managed to effectively defeat Congress in direct contests, securing 48 seats. Opposition, despite their best efforts, simply could not match the scale and momentum that the BJP brought to the table.

Maharashtra’s Massive Victory Shuts Opposition Agenda

In a historic victory, the Bharatiya Janata Party secured its third consecutive term in Maharashtra, marking the first time a leader had led the state to such a triumph. The BJP, along with its allies including the NCP won over 131 seats, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was left with just 51 seats. The ruling alliance led in more than 230 seats, reflecting the people’s strong trust in Prime Minister Modi’s leadership. With 132 out of 288 seats, the BJP achieved its best-ever performance in the state, securing a seat share of 45% . This victory marks the largest seat share for any party in Maharashtra’s assembly elections, consolidating the BJP’s dominance and effectively shutting down the opposition’s agenda in the state.

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