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Narendra Modi, India's divisive yet transformative Prime Minister, has declared victory in the national elections despite his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), falling short of securing an outright majority in parliament.
Modi's NDA alliance won 292 seats combined, out of which his BJP alone secured 240, leaving them reliant on coalition partners to form a government. This result marks a stunning upset for Modi, who had vowed to win a 400-seat supermajority.
The opposition Congress led alliance, which had been largely written off in the polls, has emerged with surprising gains, denting Modi's previous aura of electoral invincibility. They have chipped away at BJP seats, including in some of the ruling party’s traditional strongholds.
Modi's victory, though diminished, is still a testament to his popularity and the support he enjoys among the Hindu majority nation. His supporters believe he has transformed ordinary people’s lives and helped realize the promise of social mobility in a country still riven by class divide.
However, Modi's decade in power has not been without controversy. He has faced criticism for his handling of the economy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and allegations of religious persecution and Islamophobia.
Despite these challenges, Modi remains determined to deepen his transformation of India, with the goal of turning the vast country into a developed nation by 2047. He inherited a rising economy, and India’s growth remains impressive. However, youth unemployment remains a significant challenge and much of the country’s growing wealth is distributed unequally.
Modi's victory will reverberate far beyond India's borders, capturing the attention of the United States, China and Russia in particular. Washington has long seen New Delhi as a regional crucial bulwark against an increasingly assertive China.
India remains close to Moscow and has thirstily snapped up cheap Russian oil despite the invasion of Ukraine and western-led sanctions. Modi now sets his sights on deepening his transformation of India, with the goal of turning the vast country into a developed nation by 2047.
Despite his reduced mandate, supporters say Modi remains the best person to deliver on those economic promises and cement the country’s rank as a major global player. His victory, though diminished, is a testament to the enduring power of his divisive yet transformative leadership.