NEW DELHI – Indian leading PM candidate Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term as prime minister, as months-long election in country of 1.4 billion came to an end with most exit polls projecting Modi to extend his decade.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is said to clinch significantly more than the 272 seats needed for a majority in 543-seat lower house of parliament, according to exit polls. Official results will be released later this week.
As Exit polls hinted Modi victory for consecutive third term in office, experts caution that these polls, which were released by various news agencies, have often been biased.
Ruling BJP, the main opposition Congress party, and regional rivals engaged in a fierce campaign over seven phases of polling. A party or coalition needs 272 seats in parliament to form a government. The BJP-led NDA is predicted to surpass this target, according to exit polls.
If Narendra Modi wins, he will be the second prime minister in Asian nation to hold office for three consecutive terms, after Nehru – the country’s first PM.
Meanwhile, Congress and other parties accused BJP of crushing opponents, which the BJP denies. Modi entered this election with strong popularity, but his rival, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and a coalition of opposition parties gained significant momentum during the lengthy campaign.
India’s election season, which started in mid April, concluded just hours ago, was marked by fiery speeches, hundreds of rallies, and propaganda efforts as political parties sought to defeat each other.
