Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance is projected to secure a majority in the recently concluded general election, according to exit polls by NDTV. The summary of two exit polls indicates that the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) could win over 350 seats in the 543-member lower house of parliament, surpassing the 272 needed for a simple majority. The NDA had previously won 353 seats in the 2019 election.
The opposition “India” alliance, led by the Congress party, is expected to win more than 120 seats. However, exit polls have a mixed track record in India, often struggling to accurately predict outcomes in the country’s vast and diverse electorate.
Nearly one billion people were eligible to vote in the seven-phase election that commenced on April 19, conducted amidst the intense summer heat in several regions. Votes cast in electronic voting machines will be counted on June 4, with results anticipated on the same day.
A third consecutive term for Modi, 73, would make him only the second prime minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to achieve this milestone. Modi’s constituency of Varanasi, a significant religious hub for Hindus, was one of the final areas to vote. Public support for Modi’s alignment of religion and politics remains strong in Varanasi, reflecting his broader appeal as a defender of India’s majority faith.
Modi has previously led the BJP to significant victories in 2014 and 2019, largely through his resonance with Hindu voters. This year, he oversaw the inauguration of a grand temple to the deity Ram in Ayodhya, built on the site of a mosque demolished by Hindu extremists in 1992. The temple’s construction fulfilled a longstanding demand of Hindu activists, celebrated nationwide with extensive media coverage and public festivities.
Modi’s tenure has also heightened concerns among India’s over 200 million Muslims, particularly following his inflammatory remarks about Muslims during the campaign. He has accused the opposition of intending to redistribute wealth to benefit Muslim citizens, further polarizing the electorate.
