India Election: Counting Begins as Modi Expected to Secure Third Term

Officials from the Election Commission of India commenced the counting of ballots on Tuesday, following the six-week general election that concluded on June 1. Early indicators suggest Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to secure a third consecutive five-year term.

Exit polls conducted by local media on Saturday indicate a comfortable majority for the BJP and its alliance, projecting a continued mandate for the 73-year-old Modi. His administration is expected to persist with policies centered on economic reforms, infrastructure development, and enhancing India’s global leadership through a multi-alignment foreign policy strategy.

Election Day Timeline (India Time):

• 8:00 a.m.: Counting commenced at numerous voting stations across the 36 states and federally governed territories. Most voters utilized electronic voting machines (EVMs) to cast their ballots, allowing for a straightforward tabulation process. Officials at counting centers pressed a “result” button on EVMs to tally votes for each candidate.

The Election Commission reported that 642 million of the 968 million registered voters participated in this election. Although this number surpasses the total number of voters in 2019, the turnout percentage was slightly lower, at 66.4%, compared to 67.4% five years ago.

Expected Timeline for Results:

• By Noon: Preliminary trends are anticipated to emerge, providing insights into which parties are leading.
• Afternoon: The formation of the next government should become clearer as more detailed results are announced.

Updates to Follow:

Stay tuned for ongoing updates throughout the day as the counting progresses and more information becomes available about the final election outcomes.