Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist BJP and its allies were leading in early election results, but the opposition was performing better than anticipated.
NEW DELHI — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared victory on Tuesday, although it wasn’t the decisive win he had anticipated, as his party lost seats to a stronger-than-expected opposition.
Despite this, Modi expressed gratitude, stating that Indian voters had “shown immense faith” in both his party and the National Democratic Alliance coalition. He secured a rare third term as leader of the world’s most populous country following a divisive decade in power.
“This is a victory for the world’s biggest democracy,” Modi told the crowd at his party’s headquarters.
Early election results indicated that Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies had secured nearly 300 of the 543 seats in Parliament, ensuring a simple majority.
However, for the first time since the BJP’s rise to power in 2014, it did not achieve a majority on its own, as reported by The Associated Press. The BJP won 240 seats, while the opposition performed better than expected after exit polls suggested Modi’s alliance was headed for a landslide victory.
This leaves Modi, whose influence over India has steadily increased since 2014, reliant on forming a coalition to maintain his leadership.
This may even be uncertain. Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition Indian National Congress, has suggested he might attempt to form a coalition with two BJP-allied parties that were previously Congress partners.
This outcome deviates from Modi’s expectations, as he boasts a vast base of supporters both domestically and among the global Indian diaspora who credit him for India’s booming economy and growing global presence. According to Morning Consult, Modi remains the world’s most popular leader, with a 74% approval rating.
However, critics argue that Modi has undermined human rights in India and incited religious tensions, especially against the Muslim minority.
During the campaign, Modi and other BJP candidates faced accusations of hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric.
India continues to struggle with providing enough jobs for its 1.4 billion people, despite being the world’s fastest-growing major economy. Outside BJP headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday, dozens of Modi supporters danced to drums and chanted Hindu nationalist slogans. They wore shirts reading “I am Modi’s family” and saffron-colored scarves, reflecting the BJP’s official color and its association with Hindu nationalism.
Inside, the atmosphere was less celebratory.