Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has claimed victory for his coalition alliance in an address at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in New Delhi.
“Our citizens in India have full faith in the party, and today’s victory is a victory of the people,” he said.
He hailed the country’s administration of the “world’s largest election.”
He praised the “efficiency and strength” of the election system.
Modi’s BJP party is leading in 240 districts, putting them short the 272 seats needed for majority in the Lok Sabha.
Speaking to supporters, Modi made little reference to his party’s under performance in the poll.
Instead, he said the election was a ringing endorsement for the BJP-led NDA coalition.
“Since 1962 this is the first time that any government, after serving two terms, returns for third term,” he said.
He called the results “humbling and joyful” for him.
“To every voter of the country on this moment of victory, I want to to bow down and salute them,” he said.
Modi added he would advance India’s defense production, youth jobs, raise exports and help farmers, among other things.
“This country will see a new chapter of big decisions. This is Modi’s guarantee,” he said.
Moments before his address, Modi posted on X that the people of India have “placed their faith” in the BJP-led NDA alliance “for a third consecutive time.”
“This is a historical feat in India’s history,” he wrote.
Modi thanked his party workers for their “affection” and assured them he will continue the “good work done in the last decade to keep fulfilling the aspirations of people”.
He noted on X, “Words will never do justice to their exceptional efforts.”
A statement from the White House noted that the US applauded India’s government for completing a massive election undertaking
John Kirby, the White House’s national security spokesperson, also praised the Indian people for voicing their desires and “participating in a very vibrant democratic process.”
Kirby added that the U.S looks forward to seeing the final election results.
As Modi claimed victory for his alliance, India’s neighbouring countries began sending congratulatory messages.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepal’s Prime Minister, said that he was “happy to note the successful completion of the world’s largest democratic exercise”
Tshering Tobgay, the Prime Minister of Bhutan, said he looks forward to working closely with “my friend” Modi to further strengthen the relations between the two countries.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka’s President, extended his “warmest felicitations” to the NDA alliance, adding that the results demonstrated “the confidence of the Indian people in the progress and prosperity under the leadership” of prime minister Modi.
Modi “Punished” By Voters
Prior to Modi’s address, Congress party leader, Rahul Gandhi asserted that voters have “punished” Modi’s governing BJP after election results showed the government projected to return with a reduced majority.
Gandhi told reporters, “I was confident that the people of this country would give the right response.”
Opposition leader and West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee also said that Modi and his party have lost due to their “arrogance.”
“I am happy that the Prime Minister did not get the majority figure. He has lost credibility. He should resign immediately,” she told reporters.
“Even after causing so many atrocities, spending so much money, this arrogance, … INDIA has won and Modi has lost. They have even lost in Ayodhya,” she added, referring to the city in Uttar Pradesh state where Modi inaugurated a Hindu temple this year to kick-start his election campaign.
According to analysts, the electoral results raise questions over the BJP’s strategy heading into the polls.
Modi had increasingly focused on allegations the opposition planned to hand over the nation’s resources to Muslims, a tactic his critics dismissed as fearmongering.
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, a Modi biographer, said that the BJP pitch carried a “tone of overconfidence” at a time when many in the Indian public were dealing with soaring prices, joblessness and income inequality so wide that it is now worse than during British colonial rule.
Asim Ali, a political analyst and columnist, stated that the result was the “sleepwalking of the BJP into a disaster.”
“Today, Modi has lost his face. He is not that ‘undefeated person’, and his invincible aura is not there anymore,” Ali added.
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