India's National Election Exit Polls Point to Third Term for Modi

Exit polls from India's national election suggest that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led NDA are likely to secure a significant majority in the lower house of parliament, paving the way for Modi's third term. The election results are eagerly awaited on June 4, 2024.

India's National Election Exit Polls Indicate Third Term for Modi

NEW DELHI— India’s six-week-long national election concluded on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Exit polls suggest that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to secure a third consecutive term. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is projected to win a significant majority in the 543-seat lower house of parliament, with estimates ranging between 353 and 401 seats. Results are expected on June 4, 2024.

Modi’s re-election campaign initially centered on economic progress and welfare programs. However, it adopted increasingly polarizing rhetoric, particularly targeting the country's Muslim minority. The opposition, led by the Congress party's Rahul Gandhi, focused on economic issues like unemployment and inflation, criticizing Modi’s Hindu nationalist policies.

Polling eligibility stood at nearly one billion, with the election process spanning seven phases. Modi's probable victory would make him the second Indian leader to secure three consecutive terms, following Jawaharlal Nehru. The opposition has dismissed the exit polls as biased, while market analysts predict a positive reaction to the continuity of Modi's economic policies.