Narendra Modi becomes Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive time

Even the scorching sun, hot winds and temperatures exceeding 43°C did not stop Indian voters from participating in the world's largest election process, as more than 600 million voters cast their ballots to elect their prime minister for the next five years. Incumbent Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were elected to power for the third consecutive time, albeit with a weaker mandate.

Today is a glorious day [the] National Democratic Alliance [NDA] “We are going to form the government for the third time. We are grateful to the people,” Modi said in a speech at the BJP headquarters, referring to his alliance with the NDA. “This is a victory for the world's largest democracy,” he added.

The vote took place in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. The turnout was around 66% and the results were announced on June 4.

About 968 million people, nearly three times the population of the United States, were eligible to vote to elect candidates to sit in the lower house of parliament, known as the Lok Sabha. It has 543 seats, representing a total of 543 constituencies in the country. Candidates are usually affiliated with a political party, although independent candidates are not uncommon.

Any party or alliance of parties that wins at least 272 seats in the Lok Sabha is invited to form the government and choose a prime minister. The government's term lasts for five years.

The BJP and its alliance with the NDA were opposed by the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) party, which comprises more than two dozen opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress (INC).

Contrary to the exit polls which predicted a landslide victory for the BJP, the party surprisingly failed to secure a majority of seats. Despite being the single largest party with 240 seats, it had to rely on its alliance with the NDA to win 272 seats and form the government with 293 seats.

This is uncharted territory for Modi and the BJP, who will be leading a coalition government with the NDA for the first time since coming to power. In the 2014 and 2019 elections, the BJP won 283 and 303 seats, respectively. This allowed them to govern purely on their own agenda.

This time, the BJP allies will play a significant role in the functioning of the government in the next five years. The demands of the NDA will be taken into consideration and their consent will be sought for taking all decisions. If they are not taken into consideration, they can also withdraw their support and bring down the government.

The BJP will be “heavily dependent on the goodwill of its allies, which makes them key players that can be expected to play a key role, both in terms of policy-making and government formation,” said Milan Vaishnav, director of the South Asia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

There is jubilation in the INDIA camp. Although the party failed to form the government, it prevented the BJP from securing a majority. INDIA won 234 seats. The INC, the largest party in the alliance, won 99 seats, almost doubling its 2019 tally of 52 seats.

It is [the] “It is a victory of the people and a victory for democracy,” INC president Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters at a press conference after the results were declared.

The BJP has been seeking votes for Modi, who had a 75% approval rating in February 2024 after ten years in power. He is known for his polarizing rhetoric. Experts say the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya would boost support for Modi across the country.

INDIA has raised the issue of rising unemployment and inflation in the country. According to a 2022 World Bank report, the youth unemployment rate in India was 23.2%. The failure of the BJP candidate to win the Faizabad seat, which houses the Ram temple, showed that the surge of support in the region that many expected from the construction of the temple has not materialized.

There is a magic of democracy. The people, anonymously but united, have sent a message to the ruling party, said Professor Shatakshee Dhongde, who was in India during the last week of the elections. People have faith in the ruling party, but this faith should not be taken for granted. If the government does not show goodwill, the people will choose other leaders to replace them, she added.

Modi is the only Indian leader after Jawaharlal Nehru to have been elected prime minister for three terms. He was sworn in on June 9 and announced a 71-member cabinet the following day. Modi faces a tall order as he seeks to leverage India's high economic growth rate and geographical location to international advantage.