New Delhi: As the outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections reverberated across India, social media platforms became inundated with cartoons and memes reflecting the shifting political landscape. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which secured a resounding victory in 2019, experienced a significant setback this time around, with its seat tally plummeting from 303 to 240, according to data released by the Election Commission.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) also witnessed a decline, securing 292 seats compared to the 353 seats it clinched in the previous general elections. Conversely, the Congress party saw a notable improvement, winning 99 seats as opposed to 52 in 2019. The combined opposition, the INDIA bloc, managed to secure 232 seats.
With the BJP falling short of a majority on its own, it now seeks the support of its allies to form the government. Crucially, the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) emerged as a key ally for the BJP by securing 12 seats.
Social media users wasted no time in expressing their opinions and reactions through a plethora of cartoons and memes. These ranged from humorous takes on the BJP's diminished seat count to commentary on the resurgence of the opposition.
#Cartoon #ElectionResults2024 #Modi https://t.co/HNiKf2MEdC pic.twitter.com/xPIvIPdTFf
— MANJUL (@MANJULtoons) June 5, 2024
#DHToon | Hum toh fakeer aadmi hai jihttps://t.co/4wNBPc0h2T pic.twitter.com/QiAYbyvb53
— Deccan Herald (@DeccanHerald) June 5, 2024
No brutal majority! #LokSabhaPolls2024 pic.twitter.com/k60BMvPi0V
— Satish Acharya (@satishacharya) June 5, 2024
#UPkeladke vs #DoubleEngine! #ElectionResults #UttarPradesh #RahulGandhi #AkhileshYadav #INDIAAlliance #BJP #SamajwadiParty #Congress #LokSabha #cartoons pic.twitter.com/5DCVTU2J2I
— Shreyas Navare (@ShreyasNavare) June 4, 2024
BJP falls short of the majority. #loksabhaelections pic.twitter.com/Sk2pt6S0U8
— Satish Acharya (@satishacharya) June 4, 2024
Nitish Kumar to #INDIAALIANCE : pic.twitter.com/A4yOpfkEim
— Tarun Gautam (@TARUNspeakss) June 4, 2024
Behind the Scene pic.twitter.com/vcrS8iT1cZ
— Nehr_who? (@Nher_who) June 4, 2024
Time to take out 10 year old meme templates, as the old times seem to be back. #ElectionsResults #400Paar #Loksabha #BJP #Sensex
— Shikhar Raj Bhardwaj (@naklibritisher) June 4, 2024
Secular Hindus should go to Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/4jh3tZpb6N
Brian Lara and Rajiv Gandhi are the only 2 guys who really got 400 paar.#ElectionsResults #400Paar pic.twitter.com/3IzylAqK75
— MuseVerse (@MuseVerse9) June 4, 2024
#ElectionResults
— 🇮🇳 رومانا (@RomanaRaza) June 4, 2024
BJP: Abhi bar 400 par..
Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav: pic.twitter.com/B57JIleZYH
— Bollywoodirect (@Bollywoodirect) June 4, 2024
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bhopal: A massive financial irregularity has come to light in Madhya Pradesh, where Rs 23.81 crore, earmarked as relief aid for families of natural calamities and accidents, was siphoned into the accounts of government employees, their relatives, and other ineligible individuals across 13 districts, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
The CAG audit, as cited by The New Indian Express on Tuesday, revealed that the funds—intended to assist families affected by disasters such as lightning strikes, hailstorms, drought, excessive rain, floods, and accidents like snakebites and drowning—were misappropriated. The fraudulent transactions were reported across thirteen districts, including Seoni, Sheopur, Sehore, Shivpuri, Dewas, Chhatarpur, Khandwa, Mandsaur, Raisen, Damoh, Satna, Agar-Malwa, and Vidisha.
The audit report, tabled in the Vidhan Sabha, disclosed that of the total misappropriated sum, Rs 21.14 crore was transferred to unauthorised (ineligible) individuals, while Rs 2.67 crore was distributed to government employees and their relatives.
The investigation further revealed that government personnel exploited loopholes in the global budget system and the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) to facilitate the scam, TNIE added.
Fake sanction orders and fake beneficiaries were created on paper to authorise e-payments, diverting funds into unauthorised accounts.
Following the shocking revelations, disciplinary action has been initiated. In Seoni district, which witnessed the highest amount of fraud, four government employees, including a tehsildar and a naib tehsildar, have been suspended, while an FIR has been registered against another employee. In Sheopur, a district-level committee has been set up to identify those involved in the fraud. In Shivpuri, where relief funds meant for drought victims were siphoned off, one government staff has been suspended, and three others have been booked.