New Delhi: As India turned to TV, mobile and laptop screens to watch the election trends unfold, social media exploded with a flood of memes. It seemed that meme creators were racing against news channels to provide the quickest takes on the numbers. They didn't need long articles or extensive discussions—Bollywood references sufficed.
Nitish Kumar emerged as the 'man of the moment'. The Bihar Chief Minister is known for switching political allegiances faster than one can spell 'election'. Social media is awash with memes speculating on Kumar's next move, as the INDIA bloc prepares to offer significant resistance against the Modi wave.
Unintentionally, he has become the main character, and it's hard to pick the best meme capturing the situation.
A leading contender is SRK's iconic 'palat' moment from 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' of 1998. Just as Raj waited with bated breath for Simran (Kajol) to affirm her love, the INDIA alliance is eagerly anticipating Kumar's next switch.
Nitish Kumar's political maneuvering has inspired some literal references as well. A popular meme features a scene from 'Welcome' (2007), where Mallika Sherawat’s character is simultaneously romancing both Majnu Bhai (Anil Kapoor) and Don Uday Shetty (Nana Patekar).
New Found Love for UP
The unexpected setback for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh has renewed some people's faith in the state.
Akhilesh Yadav has come out as a 'chupa rustam' (dark horse). A viral image of the Samajwadi Party chief, captioned 'Believe me, brother, I really haven’t studied anything for the exam' has captivated the internet's attention.
Dating terminology has also found its way into the political battle in Uttar Pradesh.
Modi on the Defensive
A major election news update that sent shockwaves across the internet was the report of PM Modi trailing by nearly 6,000 votes in his Varanasi seat.
One X user humorously speculated on how Italy's PM Giorgia Meloni, whose close association with Modi has inspired numerous memes, might be reacting to the news.
Opposition party politicians were not hesitant to participate in sharing memes either.
Numerous instances circulated depicting Modi urgently reaching out to Nitish Kumar, pleading with him not to defect.
When BJP's Smriti Irani was defeated by Congress veteran Kishori Lal Sharma, meme creators did not hold back. Comedian Sahil Shah made a bold reference to the tagline of the once-popular Star Plus show 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'.
A satirical account known as Narunder posted an image illustrating how Irani could possibly be feeling at the moment.
Shifting Dynamics in Kerala, Andhra
Contrary to the 2019 results, the ruling YSRCP, under the leadership of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, has been surpassed by the TDP-led alliance consisting of the TDP, the BJP and the Jana Sena Party in Andhra Pradesh.
Meme creators could not resist including TDP's Chandrababu Naidu. Dubbed the "Kingmaker", they referenced an old video showing Modi assisting Naidu to a chair.
The BJP secured its first Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, a development that has left Malayalis deeply dismayed. They have sought solace in Fahadh Faasil's iconic scene from this year's blockbuster 'Aavesham' to express their sentiments.
Despite the setback in Thrissur, the official X handle of the Kerala Congress has been consistently hitting the mark with its memes. It boldly drew a comparison between PM Modi's academic scores and the current election results.
Additionally, it shared a reference to the "400 paar" slogan, emphasizing the message with a clip featuring actor Innocent from the film 'Vietnam Colony' (1992).
Indians may be lacking in various aspects, but one thing they certainly excel at is their sharp wit and talent for creating memes.
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