Big victories, bigger defeats

Prominent winners

Narendra Modi (BJP)

Varanasi/Won by 4.79 lakh votes 

Carrying the entire burden of the campaign on his shoulders and convincing the voters of his ability to deliver ‘New India’, PM Narendra Modi did the unthinkable. Unlike 2014, he contested just from Varanasi and romped home with ease. His passionate appeal  — vote for Kamal is a straight vote for Modi — struck a chord with the voters, and the resulting wave took the BJP tally to 303 seats in the Lok Sabha. PM Modi secured 6.74 lakh votes, defeating his nearest rival Shalini Yadav (SP) by 4.79 lakh votes.

Gandhinagar/Won by 5.57 lakh votes

The BJP party chief entered the fray from Gandhinagar, a seat represented by veteran LK Advani last time. He polled 8.84 lakh votes, trouncing his Congress opponent CJ Chavda by 5.57 lakh votes and bettering Advani’s 2014 margin of 4.83 lakh. The presence of Amit Shah in this constituency sent a message to the voters of Gujarat, the home state of both PM Modi and Shah, to stand with the two leaders. In 2014, Narendra Modi contested from Vadodra, recording a win by a margin of 5.70 lakh. He later resigned from there and retained Varanasi.

Rajnath singh (BJP)

Lucknow/ Won by 3.47 lakh votes

The Home Minister and former BJP chief shifted to the UP capital in 2014 after having represented Ghaziabad in the 15th Lok Sabha. Prior to that, the constituency was represented by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Rajnath, an established leader of the state, was accepted by the city known for its tehzeeb. This time around, he beat Poonam Sinha, the wife of former BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, by 3.47 lakh votes. Congress’ Acharya Pramod Krishnam, came a distant third with 1.80 lakh votes.

Smriti Irani (BJP)

Amethi/ Won by 55,000 votes

Ever since she challenged Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, the bastion of the Gandhi family, in 2014, the BJP leader made it a point to serve the constituency. Backed by a strong organisation, she became a familiar face in the constituency despite losing in the last elections. Having campaigned that the incumbent MP did precious little for the constituency, this time she wrested the seat from the Congress president. She polled 4.68 lakh votes to Rahul’s 4.13 lakh.

Pragya Thakur (BJP)

Bhopal/ Won by 3.64 lakh votes

Accused of terror activities, a charge that did not stick in the court, Pragya Thakur’s nomination caught the attention for all the wrong reasons. The BJP defended the decision to field her, saying she faced humiliation. She, however,  continued to be in the eye of the storm. Her statement on Nathuram Godse forced the Prime Minister to say he won’t be able forgive her.  Yet, Bhopal endorsed her candidature by casting 8.66 lakh votes in her favour. Former MP chief minister Digvijay Singh polled 5.01 lakh votes.

Kanimozhi (DMK)

Thoothukkudi/ Won by 3.47 lakh votes

Daughter of the DMK patriarch, the late M Karunanidhi, she trounced BJP state chief Tamilisai Soundrarajan by 3.47 lakh votes, polling 5.63 lakh votes. The BJP, which hoped to reap a good electoral harvest in the South through its alliance with the AIADMK, failed to make a breakthrough. Its minister Pon Radhakrishnan Kanyakumari lost by 2.59 lakh votes, and a former minister, CP Radhakrishnan, lost by 3.92 lakh votes from Coimbatore. 

Gautam Gambhir (BJP)

East Delhi/ Won by 3.88 lakh votes

The cricketer-turned-politician ran into trouble after his AAP challenger Atishi accused him and the BJP of circulating an objectionable pamphlet. Gambhir denied the charge, and went on to win the East Delhi seat, polling over 6.96 lakh votes. His nearest opponent, Congress’ Arvinder Singh Lovely, polled 3.04 lakh votes. The AAP candidate, known for her work in improving the quality of education in Delhi’s government schools, polled 2.19 lakh votes. 

Kiren Rijiju (BJP)

Arunachal West/ Won by 1.74 lakh votes

The Union Minister of State for Home was up against Congress candidate Nabam Tuki, a former Chief Minister, and National People’s Party’s Khyoda Apik in Arunachal West constituency. The fight was tough, but Rijiju romped home comfortably by securing 2.25 lakh votes, 1.74 lakh votes more than Tuki got. Considering there were widespread protests across the North-East over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, Rijiju’s performance is exemplary. After this stellar show, he is all set for another stint at the Centre. 

Agatha Sangma (NPP)

Tura/ Won by 64,030 votes

Daughter of former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma, Agatha has returned to the national politics by winning the Tura Lok Sabha seat after a gap of five years. During this period, her brother and current Chief Minister Conrad Sangma held the constituency. Tura had been without an MP for the past one year as Conrad resigned to become the CM. Agatha’s victory shows it’s tough to beat the Sangma family in Tura. A former minister in the UPA government, Agatha currently represents the National People’s Party.

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Rumble in the region

Farooq Abdullah (NC)

Srinagar/ Won by 70,050 votes

His victory from the Srinagar Parliamentary constituency ensured his entry into the Lok Sabha for the fourth time. This victory, in particular, has brought upon him an immitigable obligation to leave behind a legacy of being the tallest leader of Kashmir, who would stand for the defence of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. His test starts now as he is up against the massive majority of Hindu nationalists keen on doing away with Article 370 and Article 35A. 

Manish Tewari (Cong)

Anandpur Sahib/ Won by 46,884 votes

The victory of Manish Tewari from Anandpur Sahib is significant as the constituency has always been considered a panthic seat. Tewari’s win is being seen as the emergence of Hindu leadership in Punjab Congress. Many party leaders feel that Tewari can replace the incumbent PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar, who lost from Gurdaspur and may be asked to make way for a new face. Tewari defeated SAD’s Prem Singh Chandumajra.

Bhagwant Mann (AAP)

Sangrur/ Won by 1.10 lakh votes

Though known for teaching lessons to its 

sitting MPs, Sangrur re-elected AAP’s state president Bhagwant Mann. With AAP’s 12 out of 13 candidates losing their deposits in the state, Mann has become the party’s only hope in the state. Mann is the AAP’s only winning candidate in India. He got 4.13 lakh votes, defeating Congress’s Kewal Singh Dhillon. 

Anurag Thakur (BJP)

Hamirpur/ Won by 3. 99 lakh votes

Registering the fourth consecutive win from the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat, Anurag Thakur is tipped to get an important role in the Modi government. At the young age of 44, Thakur has carved a niche for himself at the national level. He won the election by a record margin of almost four lakh votes. The four-time MP has come a long way from the shadow of his father and former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. With age on his side, he could be the future Chief Minister of the hill state.

Mehbooba Mufti (PDP)

Anantnag/ Lost by 10,000 votes

Mehbooba Mufti has been routed in her bastion, Anantnag in south Kashmir. She had never lost an election from there since 1996. This time her green party flag was viewed against the backdrop of the BJP’s saffron, the party with which her party, People’s Democratic Party, had ruled the state for over three years. She could not shake off that image and paid the price by losing a make or break election of her career. Her party is virtually in tatters, and she has nothing to bank upon, except her own will.

Dushyant Chautala (JJP)

Hisar/ Lost by 3.14 lakh votes

The defeat of Dushyant Chautala, great grandson of former Deputy PM Devi Lal, from Hisar is a huge blow to his newly formed Jannayak Janta Party (JJP). His party was in contention on this seat alone. His father Ajay Chautala is serving a jail term for corruption, so a lot was depending on him. Chautala could garner only 2.89 lakh votes. He got lead from only one out of nine Assembly constituencies. His brother Digvijay, with just over 51,000 votes, came third in Sonepat. 

Bhupinder Hooda (Cong)

Sonepat/ Lost by 1.64 lakh votes

The defeat of former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda has dented his chances of becoming a CM candidate and leading a Congress campaign in the upcoming Assembly polls. The margin of loss was also substantial at 1.64 lakh votes. He lost despite five out of nine sitting MLAs in Sonepat were from his faction. His son’s loss from Rohtak has further dented his image. Congress garnered a vote share of 28.42 per cent, higher by 5.42 per cent in 2014. 

Sunil Jakhar (Cong)

Gurdaspur/ Lost by 82,459 votes

The outgoing MP from Gurdaspur, Sunil Jakhar, ceded the seat to BJP’s star candidate Sunny Deol. Having won the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypolls in 2017, the seasoned politician was hoping to repeat the performance and consolidate his position in the Punjab politics. The defeat has come as a big jolt for the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief who at times had been at loggerheads with Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on several issues. 

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Prominent losers

Rahul Gandhi  (Cong)

Amethi/ Lost by 55,000 votes

A prominent loser in this election, Rahul Gandhi also has the distinction of being a prominent winner. His decision to contest from Wayanad in Kerala allowed the BJP leadership to claim that he ran away from Amethi after sensing defeat. They also accused him of choosing a constituency where the minorities dominate. Well, Rahul won from Wayanad securing around 7.06 lakh votes. But the Wayanad win is hardly a consolation for the Amethi loss.

Jyotiraditya Scindia (Cong)

Guna/ Lost by 1.25 lakh votes

The chant of “Guna ka Gunah” against the scion of the erstwhile Scindia royals did him in. Having entered the electoral politics in 2002 after the death of his father Madhavrao Scindia, he was re-elected thrice in succession to the 14th, 15th and 16th Lok Sabha. The voters gave his opponent Dr Krishan Pal Yadav 1.25 lakh votes more than they gave him (4.88 Lakh). A huge loss indeed for the Congress!

Sheila Dikshit (Cong)

North East Delhi/ Lost by 3.66 lakh votes

For a three-time Chief Minister who was voted back to power in succession before witnessing the massive rout in the Delhi Assemble elections four years ago, Sheila Dikshit remains a quintessential politician who does not back off from a challenge. She fought hard against BJP state chief Manoj Tiwari, who logged 7.87 lakh votes. She got 4.21 lakh votes, while AAP’s Dilip Pandey secured 1.90 lakh. 

Mallikarjun Kharge (Cong)

Gulbarga/ Lost by 95,452 votes

The leader of the Congress party in the outgoing Lok Sabha, Kharge’s uninterrupted run since 1972 to 2009 in the Karnataka State Assembly and then in the Lok Sabha was halted this time by former Congress MLA Umesh Jadhav, who joined the BJP this March. Jadhav, a surgeon by profession, secured 6.20 lakh votes, around 95,000 votes more than Kharge did. 

Kanhaiya Kumar (CPI)

Begusarai/ Lost by 4.22 lakh votes

The firebrand student leader rose to prominence when he became the president of the JNU Students Union. He entered the electoral battle from the Begusarai constituency on a CPI ticket after the RJD refused to accommodate him. Bollywood personalities and prominent Left leaders threw their weight behind him but the BJP’s Girijraj Singh proved too big a challenge for him. Girijraj polled 6.92 lakh votes to Kumar’s 2.69 lakh in a triangular contest.

Dimple Yadav (SP)

Kannauj/ Lost by 12,353 votes

Having entered the 15th Lok Sabha through a byelection in 2012, Dimple was re-elected to the House in 2014. This time around, she faced a tough opponent, the BJP’s Subrat Pathak. Of the 11 lakh odd votes polled in the constituency, she lost by just 12,353 votes, polling 5.50 lakh to Pathak’s 5.63 lakh. She could not sense defeat in the town famous for ittar.

Ajit Singh (RLD)

Muzaffarnagar/ Lost by 30,000 votes

His attempt to retain hold over western UP, where he and his father Charan Singh enjoyed huge popularity over the years, came a cropper. Part of the Mahagatbandhan, Singh put up a strong fight against the BJP’s Sanjeev Balyan to lose by a close margin. He secured 5.65 lakh votes to Balyan’s 5.95 lakh votes. His son Jayant Chaudhury, too, failed to make the cut from the Jat-dominated Baghpat, with Union Minister Satyapal Singh retaining the seat.