The opposition's hopes appeared dashed before the voting even began. Most polls pointed towards a predictable outcome for India's election.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's right-wing, Hindu-nationalist coalition was anticipated to clinch a supermajority, granting them unchecked authority to implement sweeping changes.
Critics and opponents of Modi feared India was hurtling toward a virtual one-party rule under his leadership.
However, as demonstrated by Trump's 2016 victory, Brexit, and numerous other recent political upsets, predictions from polls and analysts can often miss the mark by a wide margin.
Entering this election, Modi aimed to secure 400 seats in the lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha. Yet, as the results trickled in on Tuesday night, it became evident that his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would fall short even of a simple majority.
For the first time since his ascent to power a decade ago, Modi finds himself dependent on longstanding local coalition partners to maintain governance.
Opposition parties hailed this outcome as a triumph for diversity, as voters in the world's largest democracy partially rebuffed Modi's populist agenda for a Hindu-centric nation. The BJP's seat count dropped by 63, totaling 240, well below the 272 needed for a parliamentary majority.
Meanwhile, opposition parties secured 235 seats, with BJP's coalition partners clinching 52.
Tuesday's results mark a sobering moment for a leader once deemed invincible, who claimed a divine mandate and whose dominance in the polls was deemed insurmountable by supporters.
The BJP's failure to secure a clear mandate punctures Modi's aura of authority, according to political scientist Pratap Bhanu Mehta.
Modi, hailed by some as an unstoppable force, now faces the reality of being just another politician, humbled by the electorate.
Despite his victory, Modi's path forward is fraught with challenges. He will need to navigate carefully, considering the diverse coalition needed to govern effectively.
Modi's triumph on Tuesday makes him the first leader since India's founding Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to secure a third consecutive term.
Since assuming office in 2014, Modi has enjoyed unprecedented popularity, bolstered by various development and welfare initiatives, alongside a robust brand of Hindu nationalism in a predominantly Hindu nation.
Under his leadership, India has emerged as the world's fastest-growing major economy and a burgeoning global power, making significant strides in technology and space exploration.
However, persistent issues such as poverty and youth unemployment, particularly in rural areas, persist, exacerbating socioeconomic disparities.
Despite his ambitions to transform India into a developed nation by 2047, Modi's vision of a Hindu-first state remains contentious, highlighted by recent initiatives such as the inauguration of a grand temple on the site of a demolished mosque.
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The Ram Mandir on the day of its consecration ceremony on January 22, 2024, in Ayodhya, India. |
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