What happened
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was projected to win a rare third five-year term but with his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holding a smaller-than-expected majority, or even a plurality, in Parliament, according to early results released Tuesday. Exit polls had shown the BJP winning more than the 272 seats needed for a majority. But Modi's National Democratic Alliance coalition was ahead in 294 districts — including just 241 for the BJP — while the center-left INDIA alliance, led by the once-dominant Congress party, was leading in 232.
Who said what
The BJP coalition won 353 seats in 2019 and "set a goal of winning 400" this year, Mujib Mashal said at The New York Times. The early results "suggest either that Modi's popularity" is waning or it "took his personal push" to help his unpopular party "scrape by." Modi switched from "touting his economic bona fides" to "attacking Muslims" to mobilize the BJP's Hindu nationalist base amid slumping turnout, The Wall Street Journal said. But calling Muslims "infiltrators" apparently "rubbed some voters the wrong way," even many Hindus.
What next?
If the BJP falls short of 272 seats, Modi will "need to turn to junior partners" to form a government, but his two biggest partners "do not share the ruling party's Hindu-first agenda," said the Times. Having a "stronger opposition augurs very well for India's democracy that has taken a hit during Modi's 10-year rule," political analyst Rasheed Kidwai said to The Associated Press.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Inside Syria’s al-Hol campUnder the radar Aid cuts mean authorities face ‘uphill struggle’ to maintain security
-
Kissing bug disease has a growing presence in the USThe explainer The disease has had a steady stream of cases in the last 10 years
-
The soups, noodles and cake to make this the most tasty fall yetThe Week Recommends Soothing plates from across the globe
-
Nadine Menendez gets 4.5 years in bribery caseSpeed Read Menendez's husband was previously sentenced to 11 years in prison
-
Koreans detained in US Hyundai raid return homeSpeed Read Over 300 Koreans were detained at the plant last week
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 years for coup attemptSpeed Read Bolsonaro was convicted of attempting to stay in power following his 2022 election loss
-
Former top FBI agents sue, claiming Trump purgeSpeed Read The agents alleged they were targeted by a “campaign of retribution”
-
Conservative influencer Charlie Kirk shot dead at 31Speed Read Kirk was holding a debate session at Utah Valley University
-
Judge lets Cook stay at Fed while appealing ousterSpeed Read Trump had attempted to fire Cook over allegations of mortgage fraud
-
'Total rat eradication in New York has been deemed impossible'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Did Trump just push India into China's arms?Today's Big Question Tariffs disrupt American efforts to align with India
