Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared victory for his alliance in India’s general election, despite his party losing seats to a stronger than expected opposition, Associated Press reports.
Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 240 out of 543 seats, down from 303 seats in 2019, and falling short of the 272 seats needed to secure a majority on its own. BJP will require support from its coalition partners in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which won 294 seats, to secure a majority. The opposition Congress party improved its performance, winning 99 seats, while the INDIA coalition secured 232 seats.
This outcome forces Modi to rely on coalition partners, marking a significant shift from previous landslide victories. Despite setbacks, he pledged to advance economic and defense initiatives and maintain his Hindu nationalist policies. Critics noted the election reflected economic dissatisfaction and political polarization.
