Allies support Modi for a third term following the election defeat

 

A day after humiliating election results that saw his majority slashed by a resurgent opposition, Narendra Modi is expected to take office as prime minister of India for a record third time. 

After meeting with his National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Wednesday, Mr. Modi received support to become prime minister once more.

 After the 73-year-old'sownparty failed to secure the 272 seats required to form the next government, he found himself suddenly dependent on the smaller NDA parties to secure a parliamentary majority.  The opposition hasn't officially conceded yet, despite winning 232 seats to the NDA's 293 seats. To discuss the next steps, it was holding its own meeting on Wednesday in Delhi, the nation's capital. 

After a seven-stage, weeks-long election, Mr. Modi and his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 240 seats, making them the largest party in the lower house of parliament for India, the Lok Sabha. 

However, it is a much smaller number for the prime minister; Mr. Modi had stated that he was hoping for 370 seats this time around, while the BJP won 303 seats in 2019.  

Instead, in order to ensure Mr. Modi's third term, they have to rely on NDA allies. 

 He was "unanimously" selected as their leader during the gathering at his Delhi home, according to an NDA statement, which also stated that they were "dedicated to serving the poor, women, youth, farmers, and exploited, deprived, and oppressed citizens of India." 

It is unclear exactly what concessions its allies may have obtained from the BJP. Prior to the meeting, rumors circulated that demands for support from more influential groups might have included ministerial positions.  

For the first time, Mr. Modi will be leading a coalition government with his party holding an absolute majority, and it is uncertain how things will develop over the next five years.  

The author of a biography on Mr. Modi, Nilanajan Mukhopadhyay, told the AFP news agency that it would "force Modi to take the point of view of others."  

He went on, "We'll see more democracy and a strong parliament."  "

We will need to see a new Modi; he will have to be a leader that he has never been."   

Even though they did not win, the opposition INDIA coalition has been celebrating the outcome in the meantime.  

The "overwhelming support received by our alliance" was praised by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who also claimed that the electorate had rejected the BJP's "politics of hate, corruption, and deprivation."  

His social media statement also stated, "This is a mandate to save democracy and defend the Indian Constitution against price increases, unemployment, and crony capitalism."  

The White House congratulated Mr. Modi on his victory and stated that the US hoped to collaborate with India to "ensure a free and open" Asia. This came after the NDA declared its victory.  

The election in India this year was the biggest in history. Over 600 million voters, or 66% of the eligible voters in the nation, participated. In all, nearly a billion people—roughly one in eight of the world's population—had registered to vote.  

For logistical and security reasons, voting took place in seven rounds between April 19 and June 1. With temperatures in some parts of India reaching nearly 50C, much of the election was held in intense and deadly heat.