"In Early Election Results, PM Narendra Modi's BJP and Allies Lead, But Opposition Shows Surprising Strength"
New Delhi—Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi proclaimed victory on Tuesday, though it fell short of the landslide he had anticipated, as his party yielded seats to a more resilient opposition.
Nevertheless, Modi asserted that Indian voters had demonstrated "immense faith" in both his party and his National Democratic Alliance coalition, securing him a rare third term as the leader of the world's most populous country, following a decade marked by divisiveness in power.
"This is a triumph for the world's largest democracy," Modi announced to the crowd gathered at his party's headquarters.
His Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with allied parties, seemed to have clinched nearly 300 of the 543 seats in Parliament, according to early election results, granting them a simple majority.
However, for the first time since the BJP's sweeping victory in 2014, it failed to secure a majority on its own, as reported by The Associated Press. Winning 240 seats, with the opposition outperforming expectations after exit polls suggested Modi's alliance was on track for a resounding victory.
This leaves Modi, whose dominance over India has steadily ascended since his assumption of power in 2014, reliant on forming a coalition to sustain his rule.
Even this prospect is uncertain. Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition Indian National Congress, has hinted at the possibility of forming a coalition with two parties allied with the BJP, which were once Congress' partners.
This election outcome diverged from expectations for Modi, who enjoys widespread support both domestically and among the vast Indian diaspora, credited with India's surging economy and enhanced global stature. According to Morning Consult, Modi remains the world's most popular leader, boasting an approval rating of 74%.
However, critics argue that Modi has also undermined human rights in India and exacerbated religious tensions, particularly against the Muslim minority.
Modi and other BJP candidates faced accusations of hate speech and other incendiary rhetoric throughout the campaign.
India also grapples with the challenge of generating sufficient employment for its 1.4 billion inhabitants, despite being the world's fastest-growing major economy.
At the BJP headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday, scores of Modi supporters jubilantly danced to the beat of drums, echoing Hindu nationalist chants. Bedecked in shirts emblazoned with the slogan "I am Modi's family" and donning saffron-colored scarves, the official hue of the BJP and symbolic of Hindu nationalism, they exuded fervor.
However, inside the headquarters, the atmosphere was notably less jubilant.
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