Varanasi, India: India’s Hindu-nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared poised for a third consecutive landslide victory as the six-week general election concluded on Saturday, despite the challenges posed by searing heatwaves. While formal results are expected on Tuesday, analysts have long considered Modi’s victory inevitable, attributing it to his fervent advocacy for India’s majority religion. Exit polls indicated a decisive win, and Modi expressed confidence in his re-election, citing a high voter turnout as evidence of public support for his government.
Modi highlighted his administration’s track record and the positive impact of their policies on the poor and marginalized communities in a post on social media platform X. An exit poll by broadcaster CNN-News18 projected that Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its coalition allies would secure 355 seats, significantly surpassing the 272-seat majority required in the lower house. However, such predictions have often fallen short in accurately gauging public sentiment in India, a nation with nearly a billion eligible voters.
