After the end of the elections in India, Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared himself the winner before the results were announced. According to a post-election poll, Modi has secured a third term in office.
“I can say with confidence that the people of India voted in record numbers to re-elect the NDA government,” he wrote on Platform X on Saturday evening, without substantiating his claim.
According to the polls, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by its Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has more than 350 of the total 543 seats in the lower house, broadcaster NDTV reported on Saturday. That is considerably more than the 272 seats needed for a majority.
Result not secured
INDIA’s largest opposition bloc, led by Rahul Gandhi’s Congress party – descendant of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, which had three heads of government in the country – was expected to win more than 120 seats. In the past, post-election surveys in India often produced incorrect results.
Modi would be only the second Prime Minister of India to serve a third term. Only Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister since independence from Britain in 1947, achieved this before him.
Biggest elections in the world
The election was the largest vote in the world. More than a billion Indians were called upon to elect a new lower house. Due to its size, the elections were held in seven phases and lasted six weeks. Saturday was the last day of voting. The announcement of the results is scheduled for Tuesday (June 4).
Modi presented himself as a strongman during the election campaign, pointing to robust economic growth that is attracting investors. Under him, the subcontinent has become the world’s fifth largest economic power. Under Modi, India became the fourth country to land on the moon. He also invests heavily in modern infrastructure such as roads, express trains and airports. But the growth is not evenly distributed. During the election campaign, critics pointed to high unemployment and inflation.
What does Modi plan to do?
The 73-year-old Modi and his party want to expand their power with the aim of turning India into a state predominantly intended for the Hindu majority, which makes up 80 percent of the population. According to observers, the approximately 200 million Muslims and other religious minorities are increasingly becoming second-class citizens. Modi’s promise is a radical departure from the founding fathers’ vision of an independent India.
Critics and the opposition fear that if Modi’s party is re-elected, he could try to change the constitution to further consolidate this path. It remains to be seen whether the BJP can further expand its majority in Parliament.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
