In an unexpected political twist, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party is on the verge of losing its majority in parliament, requiring collaborative efforts to form a new government.
This presents a significant challenge for Modi, a prominent figure in Indian politics for the past decade. Despite leading with 241 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party falls short of the 272 required for a majority, a significant decline from the 303 seats it won in the 2019 election.
Meanwhile, preliminary results suggest that the opposition coalition, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, is likely to secure over 220 seats.
In the current election, the Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is up against the Indian Alliance, led by the Congress Party. Modi aims to continue his tenure and has emphasized his vision of elevating India’s economy and achieving developed nation status by 2047.
However, he faces criticism, particularly from Muslim groups, for his divisive rhetoric. Modi is relying on support from the Hindu community. Vote counting is expected to take place on Tuesday, following the completion of the final round of voting today, with results anticipated on the same day.