With a little over half of the votes counted, the Congress gets 93 seats giving the PM Modi-led NDA 344 seats, a number higher than that of 2014. The Congress is ahead in Punjab and Tamil Nadu, where it joined hands with the DMK. Party chief Rahul Gandhi is leading in Kerala's Wayanad, however in Congress bastion Amethi, Rahul Gandhi conceded defeat to BJP leader Smriti Irani. UPA chairman Sonia Gandhi continues to maintain a comfortable lead in her Rae Bareli.
The Indian National Congress in the 2014 general election won just 44 seats in the Lok Sabha as the BJP became the first party in decades to get a full majority. This year, the ruling BJP is confident of yet another win as exit polls point to a thumping victory for the party. The Congress is not disheartened even though the exit polls predicted just 122 seats for the party and its allies. Party chief Rahul Gandhi had called the exit polls "fake" and urged his partymen to be alert ahead of the results. Election Results will be out by late evening.
Priyanka Gandhi too in a similar message to party workers said that they should not fall for "rumours" intended to make them drop their guard ahead of the counting of votes.
Congress joined hands with a number of opposition parties as they look to improve its count this time.
Rahul Gandhi is contesting elections from two seats this time, one from his home turf Amethi and from Kerala's Wayanad.
The results today will determine if the party can prove the exit polls to be wrong to form the government at the Centre ousting the largest political party in the world.
Counting of votes is underway and the Election Commission has said the final results will be in only by late evening.
Here are the Live Updates on Congress Lok Sabha Results News 2019:
I accept the verdict of the people of India 🇮🇳
- Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 23, 2019
Congratulations to the winners, Mr Modi & the NDA.
Thank you to the people of Wayanad for electing me as your MP.
Thank you also to the people of Amethi.
Thank you Congress workers & leaders for your hard work in this campaign.
Shri. @RahulGandhi singlehandedly campaigned across the country to bring our party to power. We along with crores of people wanted him to be the PM but that has now been delayed. But this will eventually happen in the coming years.@INCKarnataka @INCIndia
- Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 23, 2019
Congratulations to Mr Narendra Modi and the BJP for their resounding victory.
- P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) May 23, 2019
May the new government work towards rapid development and welfare of the people.
Congratulations to @BJP4India & @narendramodi on a decisive victory. The people of India have made their decision & we respect their mandate. We'd like to thank all our workers for their hard work. We wish the new govt the best & look forward to working towards India's future.
- Congress (@INCIndia) May 23, 2019
#ResultsWithNDTV | Congress chief Rahul Gandhi congratulates PM Modi and BJP, says "people have decided"
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 23, 2019
Watch live now on https://t.co/Fbzw6n8LeF and NDTV 24x7 pic.twitter.com/RNbFlP4JYU
Rahul Gandhi likely to skip Congress press conference called at 5.30 pm today. NDTV's @amitoj with the latest developments #ResultsWithNDTV #ElectionResults2019 pic.twitter.com/5ZKNnOYwB8
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 23, 2019
"It is extremely disappointing. I am not shocked. We need to revamp our strategy, we need to expand our footprints and work across India": @SalmanSoz, Spokesperson, Congress #ResultsWithNDTV #ElectionResults2019 pic.twitter.com/05XSSINbIG
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 23, 2019
Narendra Modi vs Rahul Gandhi a no-contest once again? Congress' Shama Mohamed shares her views#ResultsWithNDTV #ElectionResults2019 pic.twitter.com/5XfD5mbvEu
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 23, 2019
सबका साथ + सबका विकास + सबका विश्वास = विजयी भारत
- Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2019
Together we grow.
Together we prosper.
Together we will build a strong and inclusive India.
India wins yet again! #VijayiBharat
#ResultsWithNDTV | Election trends at 4:01 pm. https://t.co/oOz20mcmkH pic.twitter.com/CluS29xZ7S
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 23, 2019
Election Results 2019: Priyanka Gandhi Heads To Brother Rahul Gandhi's Amid Grim News For CongressLok Sabha Election Results 2019: Amid a devastating outlook for the Congress as votes were counted on Thursday in the national election, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was seen driving to the home in Delhi of her brother Rahul Gandhi, the party chief for the second time.
My thanks to the @INCIndia workers, dedicated volunteers & above all the people of Thiruvananthapuram for having reposed faith in me & in the values of #InclusiveIndia, democratic diversity, secularism, economic growth & social justice. I look forward to serving them as before.
- Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 23, 2019
Currently at a lead of 62,000 with 80% counted!! Many areas favourable to us yet to be counted. Proud to declare victory. #TharoorWonThePooram !
- Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 23, 2019
The Congress headquarters in the capital wore a deserted look on Thursday with counting trends showing only a marginal improvement in the partys tally from the previous Lok Sabha elections.
Senior party leaders were conspicuous by their absence as the trends showed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead on 298 seats while the cCongress was leading in 52 seats, as per the Election Commission website. Congress spokespersons present at the party headquarters were also keen to know the trends to firm up before giving their opinion.
Some Congress workers who gathered outside the party office blamed the results trends on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). They also held a protest carrying placards demanding that EVMs should not be used in elections.
Earlier in the morning, some party workers performed a "havan" outside the party office, praying that the day will bring good results for the party.
However, the party leaders were taken aback by the trends as they were expecting a minimum of 100 seats.
Congress leader Gaurav Vallabh said the party fought the Lok Sabha elections on issues which affected the common man and focused on development matters.
"Let us wait for the final results," he said.
my lead crosses 30,000; 57% counted. #TharoorForTvm
- Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 23, 2019
"There was no alternative to Modi, nor there was a gathbandhan. Congress was fighting for revival, not survival": KC Tyagi, JDU #ResultsWithNDTV #ElectionResults2019 pic.twitter.com/xWlJb938qk
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 23, 2019
#ResultsWithNDTV | Election trends at 11:56 am. https://t.co/0CnuNezNTM pic.twitter.com/2Nu04RMQcS
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 23, 2019
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is leading in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat as early leads come in. "Not getting excited about just 4 per cent of the votes counted, but it's welcome news that I took the lead from the start and am holding on to it," Mr Tharoor tweeted.
The JDS-Congress coalition appeared to be heading for a disastrous showing in the state after months of internal bickering and strain.
Congress is leading in Kerala in 18 seats, Left trailing behind with 2 seats.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi is leading in Wayanad constituency in Kerala by 10,910
votes against CPI's C P Suneer, according to the Election Commission.
Rahul Gandhi leading in Kerala's Wayanad, mother Sonia Gandhi leading in UP bastion Raebareli
Rahul Gandhi takes the lead in UP bastion Amethi after trailing for a while.
"The results will be definitely in favour of Congress. We are expecting that Congress will win and form the government. Rahul Gandhi will be the PM. The fight in Delhi is between BJP and Congress," Mr Maken told ANI.
BJP-Shiv Sena, Congress-NCP neck to neck in Maharashtra, both leading in 9 seats each
Congress leading in 59 seats as compared to BJP's 151
Congress gains in Dakshina Kannada.
The counting exercise is on in over 4,000 counting centres amid concerns raised by opposition parties over alleged tampering of EVMs. They have asked the Election Commission to ensure transparency in counting.
Election Commission officials said results are expected only by late evening.
"The next 24 hours are important. Be alert and vigilant. Don't be afraid. You are fighting for the truth. Don't be disheartened by what the fake exit polls are propagating. Have faith in yourselves and the Congress. Your hard work will not be in vain, Jai Hindi," Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Hindi.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the UP Congress general secretary had said in a message to party workers after exit polls, that they should not fall for "rumours" intended to make them drop their guard ahead of the counting of votes. The exit polls had predicted a 122 seat for Congress and its allies.
"My dear Congress workers, sisters and brothers... Don't let rumours and exit polls discourage you. This is being done just to break your determination. It is very important that you remain alert amid all this. Please continue to keep vigil outside strongrooms and counting centres. We are confident that our combined efforts will bear fruit," she said in the audio message.
