NEW DELHI: Durgesh Pandey, a 30-year-old
BJP supporter from Chhattisgarh's Balrampur, chopped off his finger and presented it as an offering at a Goddess Kali temple on the day of the Lok Sabha election results on June 4.
According to reports, Pandey initially felt disheartened upon witnessing Congress leading in the early trends of the election. He then visited the temple, praying for BJP's victory.
A few hours later, when he observed the BJP-led NDA emerging triumphant, he returned to the temple, cut off his finger on his left hand, and offered it to the Goddess.
Pandey attempted to control the bleeding by wrapping a cloth around the injury. However, as his condition deteriorated, his family rushed him to the Samari Community Health Centre, where doctors performed surgery. Unfortunately, due to the delayed treatment, they were unable to reattach his severed finger.
According to reports Pandey said, "I made a vow. When the BJP was winning, I went to the temple and offered my finger. The BJP will now form the government, but I would have been more happy if the NDA would have crossed the 400 mark."
The BJP, aiming for a third consecutive term and a third straight single-party majority, secured 240 seats in the Lok Sabha election, as per the Election Commission of India (ECI). The NDA's total tally reached 293 seats.
The ruling party now relies on the support of its NDA allies to form the government at the Centre. Meanwhile, the Congress won 99 seats, its best performance since 2009, and the opposition alliance, the INDIA bloc, secured 234 seats.