Counting of votes is underway in India and early leads indicate that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies are all set for a consecutive win.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading on 350 out of the 542 seats according to unofficial results.
The opposition United Progressive Alliance (UPA) headed by the Indian National Congress (INC) is leading on 90 seats, while Congress alone is leading on 50 seats. In the 2014 elections, Congress managed to bag 44 seats.
The coalition or party that manages to bag a simple majority of 272 seats will form the government, while the 272 elected MPs will decide who the Prime Minister would be.
Narendra Modi took to Twitter to express his pleasure over the unofficial results saying that Indian has won yet again. "Together we grow. Together we prosper. Together we will build a strong and inclusive India. India wins yet again!"
https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1131488026247323648
Unlike Modi, many others believe that BJP's reign again would be a hard one for minorities in the country. Lawyer and activist Jibran Nasir said:
"BJP clean sweeps India with tectonic shifts coming even in largely left-leaning states like Bengal. Despite all criticism of BJP opposition never gave a clear alternative to voters. It was Modi vs No Modi. People vote for certainty and minorities will pay the cost."
https://twitter.com/MJibranNasir/status/1131483332116647936
A shopkeeper in India told Al Jazeera that Modi's anti-Muslim propaganda has succeeded. He also warned that this might be the 'end' of Muslims in the country. "This time it looks like Muslims will be finished and they will declare a 'Hindu Rashtra' (theocratic Hindu state)."
The result would give the BJP and its allies, on course for close to 50 seats, a commanding position in the lower house. They will still lack a majority in the upper house, however, putting a brake on Modi’s legislative agenda.
As small BJP celebrations began in some places, Indian stocks rose, with the main stock indices, the Sensex and the Nifty gaining more than two percent to break the 40,000 and 12,000 point marks respectively for the first time.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading on 350 out of the 542 seats according to unofficial results.
The opposition United Progressive Alliance (UPA) headed by the Indian National Congress (INC) is leading on 90 seats, while Congress alone is leading on 50 seats. In the 2014 elections, Congress managed to bag 44 seats.
The coalition or party that manages to bag a simple majority of 272 seats will form the government, while the 272 elected MPs will decide who the Prime Minister would be.
'India Wins Yet Again': Narendra Modi
Narendra Modi took to Twitter to express his pleasure over the unofficial results saying that Indian has won yet again. "Together we grow. Together we prosper. Together we will build a strong and inclusive India. India wins yet again!"
https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1131488026247323648
'Minorities Will Pay the Cost': Jibran Nasir
Unlike Modi, many others believe that BJP's reign again would be a hard one for minorities in the country. Lawyer and activist Jibran Nasir said:
"BJP clean sweeps India with tectonic shifts coming even in largely left-leaning states like Bengal. Despite all criticism of BJP opposition never gave a clear alternative to voters. It was Modi vs No Modi. People vote for certainty and minorities will pay the cost."
https://twitter.com/MJibranNasir/status/1131483332116647936
'BJP's Anti-Muslim Propaganda Has Succeeded'
A shopkeeper in India told Al Jazeera that Modi's anti-Muslim propaganda has succeeded. He also warned that this might be the 'end' of Muslims in the country. "This time it looks like Muslims will be finished and they will declare a 'Hindu Rashtra' (theocratic Hindu state)."
The result would give the BJP and its allies, on course for close to 50 seats, a commanding position in the lower house. They will still lack a majority in the upper house, however, putting a brake on Modi’s legislative agenda.
As small BJP celebrations began in some places, Indian stocks rose, with the main stock indices, the Sensex and the Nifty gaining more than two percent to break the 40,000 and 12,000 point marks respectively for the first time.