Indian Elections: Weaker Modi set to lean on allies for third term

Agencies
New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s coalition led in a majority of seats in India’s general election, as the counting of votes neared completion on Tuesday.

But the tally for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was well short of an expected landslide, dealing a surprise setback for Modi.

Unlike the last two elections, the BJP will need its alliance partners to cross the 272 majority mark in the 543-seat lower house of parliament.

Modi had set a target of more than 400 seats for the NDA.

But the alliance was leading in only about 290, according to Election Commission data about three-quarters of the way through the count.

The BJP itself was leading in 240 seats, compared with 303 at the last election in 2019.

Final results are expected to come later on Tuesday or early Wednesday. “People have placed their faith in NDA (National Democratic Alliance) for a third consecutive time,” Modi wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. “This is a historical feat in India’s history.”

Opposition upbeat

A smaller-than-expected mandate means Modi will have to lean more on his allies — like regional leaders N. Chandrababu Naidu in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh and Nitish Kumar in Bihar in the east — for support, unlike in the past.

Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party and Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) said they would endorse Modi for prime minister.

Meanwhile, supporters of the principal opposition Indian National Congress appeared upbeat despite the party losing the election.

They chanted slogans praising Rahul Gandhi, the most prominent leader of the party. He is also the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty that played a dominant role in Indian politics for generations.

Speaking at a press conference with party President Mallikarjun Kharge, Gandhi said he saw the figures as a message from the people.

“The poorest of this country have defended the constitution of India,” he said.

The Congress has also said the election had been a “moral and political loss” for Modi.

“This is public’s victory and a win for democracy,” party President Kharge told reporters.