Comparing 2004 and 2024 Elections: Lessons from Unexpected Results
The recent election results have drawn intriguing parallels with the 2004 elections, which marked the end of a 'successful' five-year term under the NDA government led by the charismatic Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Back then, riding on the wave of 'India Shining', Vajpayee was widely expected to secure another term in power in 2009. Pre-election polls and exit polls all pointed towards a clear majority for the ruling coalition. However, when the results were announced, they defied these expectations, leaving everyone puzzled—much like the recent election results did.
Interestingly, a post-poll survey conducted by Lokniti-CSDS in 2004 asked similar questions to those posed in the recent Lokniti survey. The findings of these surveys shed light on the parallels and contrasts between the political landscapes of 2004 and 2024.