By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
India's transformative but divisive Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his victory in the national elections on Tuesday evening. However, his aspirations for a decisive majority were dashed as the unexpected results curtailed his party's dominance.
Addressing enthusiastic supporters at his party's headquarters in New Delhi, Modi celebrated the victory of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is set to form the government for the third consecutive term. "Today is a glorious day. National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is going to form the government for the third time, we are grateful to the people," he stated, heralding the achievement as a triumph for democracy.
Despite the victory, Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fell short of the 272 seats required for an outright majority in parliament, securing only 240 seats. The NDA alliance as a whole garnered 292 seats. This outcome represents a significant setback for Modi, who had confidently predicted a 400 seat supermajority and had previously secured simple majorities in the last two elections, propelling his Hindu nationalist party to electoral prominence.
The opposition, which had been largely dismissed in pre election analyses, portrayed the results as a repudiation of Modi's divisive governance. Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Indian National Congress, asserted that the early results clearly indicated the country's rejection of Modi's leadership. "We do not appreciate the way they have run this country for the last 10 years so that is a huge message for Mr. Narendra Modi," he remarked.
Although the opposition's coalition failed to unseat Modi, they significantly undermined his perceived invincibility by reducing the BJP's hold on several traditional strongholds. The election outcome also triggered a sharp decline in Indian stock markets, reflecting investor concerns about Modi's capacity to implement further economic reforms.
The election saw over 640 million voters participate across the nation, from the Himalayan peaks to the western jungles. Although turnout slightly decreased from the record levels of 2019, Modi’s third term victory underscores his widespread popularity. To many supporters in the Hindu majority nation, 73 year old Modi remains an emblematic leader whose policies have catalyzed social mobility and national development.
BJP supporter Rajgopal Kashyap praised Modi as an instrument of divine will, attributing significant national advancements to his leadership. Modi's administration has focused on upgrading the country’s infrastructure, including transport networks and power plants, and has claimed to subsidize the construction of millions of homes for impoverished families.
Modi's tenure, however, has not been free of controversy. His early decision to demonetize high value currency notes caused widespread panic, and his government faced massive protests from farmers in 2019. Additionally, his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in over half a million deaths, attracted severe criticism.
Furthermore, Modi's tenure has seen a rise in religious persecution and Islamophobia, with accusations of fostering sectarianism to support his party’s Hindu nationalist agenda. Critics argue that Modi's policies are steering India away from its secular foundations towards a Hindu majoritarian state, raising concerns given India's history of communal violence.
Internationally, Modi's victory holds significant implications, particularly for relations with the United States, China, and Russia. The U.S. views India as a strategic counterbalance to China, while India maintains close ties with Russia, especially regarding energy imports amid global sanctions on Moscow.
Looking ahead, Modi aims to continue transforming India into a developed nation by 2047, coinciding with the centenary of its independence from British rule. Despite economic growth and a burgeoning young workforce, challenges such as youth unemployment and wealth inequality persist.
Modi's supporters remain optimistic, believing he is the best leader to fulfill these economic promises and elevate India's global standing. Political scientist Christophe Jaffrelot notes that many Indians attribute a renewed sense of national pride to Modi’s leadership, seeing him as a symbol of the nation's resurgence on the global stage.