Prime Minister Modi boasts of “historic victory” in Indian elections, but falls short of parliamentary majority

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared victory in his country’s parliamentary elections, although his party, the BJP, has lost its majority in Parliament. Modi described the result as “the greatest victory in the world” during a speech at the BJP headquarters in Delhi, where he thanked supporters and election workers for their efforts. He also praised India’s democracy as a model of credibility and efficiency.

Reflecting on the state of India a decade ago, Modi acknowledged a sense of despair and disillusionment among young people in 2014. He emphasized his government’s role in pulling the country out of that despair and expressed gratitude for being given a second chance in 2019. Modi has promised a continued fight against corruption and poverty as key priorities in his new government.

The election results show that Modi’s alliance, the National Democratic Alliance, has won a majority in Parliament with at least 272 out of 543 seats. This allows Modi to become prime minister for a third term, although the BJP did not secure as many seats as in the previous election. The main opposition party, the Congress Party, won 88 seats and led in eleven other constituencies, marking a significant increase from the previous election.

Over 600 million Indians participated in the seven-phase election, making it a world record in terms of voter turnout. Despite slightly lower turnout compared to the previous election, the results captured a significant shift in political dynamics. The BJP’s victory, albeit with a reduced majority, reflects a complex political landscape in India.