The public is tough to read this time and while the BJP will get majority, one can expect the unexpected: This is what a group of experts at NDTV concluded as the massive celebration of democracy in the country draws to a close. There will be tough fights, some in the BJP bastions of the north and the ruling party will gain from non-BJP states, including Telangana, Odisha and Bengal, the experts said. As for the 370-seat target, it could represent the ideal, said one of the experts at NDTV Battleground, anchored by Editor-in-chief Sanjay Pugalia.

The 2024 election has bucked the trend of the last 10 years, in the sense of an absence of any wave or public anger, the experts agreed. What has hit the country instead is a sense of discontent, which, the Opposition has failed to capitalise on.

“Voting is an emotional decision, there’s discontent. Last time BJP got 40% votes but converting discontent to anger is important. There was one-sided election in Dec 2023 polls. Wave is seen after election. It’s not easy to understand the psyche of the voter,” said political strategist Amitabh Tiwari.

Political expert Neerja Chowdhury said the election has been “complex” and “difficult to decode”.

“At some level, we are not seeing that Modi wave. On a different level, there are some fence-sitters. Modi Wave cannot control the Opposition, who have local issues. The Opposition is giving a fight but that doesn’t equal victory,” she added.

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal has accused Union home minister Amit Shah of threatening to topple the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab after the Lok Sabha elections, claiming that the country is under dictatorship. This accusation follows Shah’s statement at a poll rally in Ludhiana, where he urged people to ensure the BJP’s victory in Punjab and declared, “the Bhagwant Mann government will not last long after the BJP’s victory.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke about the endorsement to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal by Pakistan and said it is a “matter of grave concern and calls for a thorough investigation”. PM Modi, in an interview to news agency IANS said, “I don’t understand why some select group of people, apparently those who harbour animosity against us, get endorsements from Pakistan, why voices of support emanate from there, for certain individuals.”