India election results 2024 updates: Modi says he will form next government

 India election results 2024 updates: Modi says he will form next government

Wednesday (June 5)

2:50 p.m. Indian shares jump 3% after two key members of Modi's alliance -- the Telugu Desam Party and Janata Dal (United) -- pledged their continued support for it forming a new government after a narrow win. 

1:10 p.m. Modi will be sworn in for his new term as prime minister on June 8, local TV channels report. Modi's cabinet recommended the dissolution of the lower house of Parliament on Wednesday, according to news agency ANI.

12:00 p.m. Indian stocks are volatile after the unexpectedly narrow win by Modi's alliance, with the Nifty index swinging between gains and losses in early trading. Investors are worried that Modi's BJP will have to rely on regional parties, whose political loyalties have wavered over the years, to form the government, raising concerns over the economic policy, Reuters reports.

He added, "Our fight hasn't reached the desired destination, [but] for saving democracy and constitution, our border and the people of this country, we will keep fighting. The coming days will be important."

Rahul Gandhi spoke after, saying, "This election for India alliance and Congress party didn't fight against a political party only. This was against BJP, institutions, governance structures ... it was a fight against all. All these institutions were captured by Modi, and [Home Minister] Amit Shah. The fight was about saving the constitution."

He continued: "When they froze our bank accounts, put chief ministers in jail, broke parties, I thought people of India will come together to save the constitution. And I have been proven right."

5:10 p.m. Modi wins in his Varanasi constituency in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, according to a post on the Election Commission's website.

India election results 2024 updates: Modi says he will form next government

RECAP: Here’s what happened today
This live page will soon be closing. Here’s what happened today:

The BJP underperformed expectations, particularly in their Uttar Pradesh stronghold, and are projected to win only 240 seats, far short of the 272 needed for a majority in India’s lower house of parliament.

The weak showing means that Prime Minister Modi will have to rely on BJP-led NDA coalition partners like no other time during the party’s last two terms in the majority, raising the prospect of more checks on Modi’s rule.

All told, the opposition bloc were on track to win 222 seats, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying the results showed a clear rejection of the Indian prime minister.

Nevertheless, in an address, Modi hailed the NDA’s victory, noting it was the first time since 1962 that a coalition had won three elections in a row.

“There will be challenges coming in the parliament. There will be bills that will have to be passed, and there is bound to be a great amount of compromise that he will have to make,” he added. “In the past, when he had a brute majority, he would not be compromising. He always projected himself as somebody very strong who will not compromise.”

“I’m sure his allies will be uncomfortable if he continues to speak in the manner he did,” Kapoor added, “particularly trying to provoke Muslims. It’s got to be a different government altogether.”

20h ago (17:45 GMT)
How are the parties performing?

india count

20h ago (17:40 GMT)

Analysis

Kashmir results show people’s anger against BJP’s policy: Experts

The results from federally administered regions of Indian-administered Kashmir and Ladakh show people’s anger against BJP’s policy in the region, experts say.

The BJP did not field any candidate from the Muslim-majority part of Kashmir while its candidate came in third position from the lone parliamentary seat in Ladakh, which saw protests against the BJP policy.

Independent candidate Abdul Rasheed Sheikh, popularly known as engineer Rasheed, won the elections from Baramulla in northern Kashmir. He defeated former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while lodged in jail since he was arrested under “anti-terror” law after being accused of money laundering.

Hundreds of Kashmiri activists and leaders were arrested in the wake of the 2019 government decision to strip the Muslim-majority region’s special status. Prime Minister Modi said it was aimed at ending the armed rebellion, which erupted in the late 1980s.

“Incarcerated former legislator Engineer Rashid’s massive win is an indication that Kashmir continues to be a ground for semi-separatist politics.” Zafar Choudhary, a political analyst based in the southern city of Jammu, told Al Jazeera.

Along with Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, also a former chief minister, has lost in their constituencies. However, candidates from Abdullah’s National Conference won in the Srinagar and Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituencies.

Political expert Sheikh Showkat Hussain told Al Jazeera that people have expressed their resentment against the BJP and its allies in Kashmir through their vote.

“People have rejected BJP’s stance on Kashmir, it includes the abrogation of Article 370 decision,” he said referring to the constitutional safeguard that Modi government removed in 2019.

In the southern city of Jammu, the BJP has retained its hold on the Udhampur and Jammu constituencies, but its vote share has come down drastically compared with the last elections.

The outcome of the parliamentary elections is likely to have an effect on the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir slated to be held in September as per Supreme Court directions.

The Ladakh result is being seen as a major setback for the BJP as the party received support when it carved out the region from Kashmir.

“This is a defeat for BJP in Ladakh. This is people’s anger against the decision taken on August 5, 2019,” activist Sajad Kargili from Ladakh told Al Jazeera

20h ago (17:30 GMT)

Regional party set to carry Tamil Nadu

The left-wing Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is projected to win 22 seats in the southern state.

Congress was on track to win nine of the state’s 39 total seats in Lok Sabha.

20h ago (17:25 GMT)

BJP makes inroads in Kerala

The BJP has won a seat in Kerala, making new inroads in the southern Indian state.

The party’s candidate won in the district of Thrissur, which Congress had won in 2019.

Congress was set to win 14 districts in the longtime left-leaning state, one fewer than five years ago.

Kerala

People stand in lines as they wait to cast their votes at a polling station during the second phase of the general election in the southern state of Kerala, India on April 26. [Sivaram V/Reuters]

LISTEN TO THESE PODCASTS
podcast episode artwork
play
From: The Take
From India to Ukraine: the South Asians fighting in Russia’s war
Hundreds of South Asians are fighting Russia’s war on Ukraine, including from India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. They face physi...
podcast episode artwork
play
From: The Take
What would a third Modi term mean for India?
The world’s largest election begins Friday in India, with close to one billion registered voters. Narendra Modi, the incum...
podcast episode artwork
play
From: The Inside Story Podcast

How could Trump's sentencing shape the US election?

Donald Trump could face more than 100 years in prison for falsifying business records. He'll find out shortly before Repub...

RELATED

India election results 2024: How will votes be counted?

Here’s how votes for India’s Lok Sabha polls will be counted using electronic voting machines on June 4.

Published On 2 Jun 2024

2 Jun 2024

Indian polling officials

Modi magic: Why Indian exit polls predict record BJP win

Exit polls suggest the prime minister’s party could win even more seats than it did in 2019.

Published On 2 Jun 2024

2 Jun 2024

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prays at Kashi Vishwanath Temple after a roadshow in Varanasi, India, Monday, May 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar)

Heatstroke kills 33 polling staff in a state on last day of India election

While several people have died during the intense heatwave, dozens dying in one day marks an especially grim toll.

Published On 2 Jun 2024

2 Jun 2024

India heat election

India election results 2024: Winners and losers of all past Lok Sabha votes

From 1951 to 2019, Congress and the BJP have seen highs and lows in India’s parliamentary elections.

Published On 3 Jun 2024

3 Jun 2024

MORE FROM NEWS

New test for Modi after India election surprise: Can he work with others?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures, at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in New Delhi. [Adnan Abidi/Reuters]

Israel destroyed Khan Younis yet these Palestinians came back home

Fatmeh Abu Mustafa sits in the midst of what remains of her home [Screengrab/Sanad/Al Jazeera]

South African minister charged with corruption amid coalition talks

South Africa's Sports Minister Zizi Kodwa appeared before a court on corruption charges [File: Wikus De Wet/AFP]

India election results: Did ‘secular’ parties let Muslims down too?

A Muslim voter shows her index finger marked with an indelible ink after casting her vote in the sixth round of polling in India's national election in Prayagraj on May 25, 2024. [Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP Photo]

MOST POPULAR

Modi elected leader of BJP-led coalition, to stake claim to form government

[Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP Photo]

Morgues overflow in central Gaza as Palestinians flee new Israeli assault

Mourners gather next to the bodies of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes during their funeral at Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir Al-Balah, in central Gaza Strip [Doaa Rouqa/Reuters]

India election results: Big wins, losses and surprises

A Samajwadi Party supporter carries portraits of party leader Akhilesh Yadav, right, and Cong

ress party leader Rahul Gandhi [Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP Photo]

South Africa elections final results: What happens next?

Bollyfliiix 

Bollyflix

bollyfliiix.blogspot.com