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| India election results 2019: Narendra Modi set for decisive win | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governing party has taken a decisive lead as votes are counted in the country's huge general election. | Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governing party has taken a decisive lead as votes are counted in the country's huge general election. |
| The alliance led by his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is ahead in well over 300 seats and Mr Modi is on course to extend his majority. | The alliance led by his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is ahead in well over 300 seats and Mr Modi is on course to extend his majority. |
| Over 600 million people voted in a marathon six-week long process. | Over 600 million people voted in a marathon six-week long process. |
| Mr Modi was up against the main opposition Congress party and powerful regional rivals across the country. | Mr Modi was up against the main opposition Congress party and powerful regional rivals across the country. |
| Counting began at 08:00 local time (02:30 GMT) when voting ended on Sunday. | Counting began at 08:00 local time (02:30 GMT) when voting ended on Sunday. |
| This election has been viewed as a referendum on Mr Modi, a polarising figure adored by many but also blamed for increasing divisions in India. | This election has been viewed as a referendum on Mr Modi, a polarising figure adored by many but also blamed for increasing divisions in India. |
| Supporters of the Hindu nationalist BJP have begun celebrating what they see as a decisive win. But Mr Modi is only expected to arrive at the party HQ in Delhi later on Thursday. | Supporters of the Hindu nationalist BJP have begun celebrating what they see as a decisive win. But Mr Modi is only expected to arrive at the party HQ in Delhi later on Thursday. |
| What are the numbers? | What are the numbers? |
| While Mr Modi's BJP is ahead in hundreds of seats, the main opposition alliance headed by Rahul Gandhi's Congress party is ahead in fewer than 100. | While Mr Modi's BJP is ahead in hundreds of seats, the main opposition alliance headed by Rahul Gandhi's Congress party is ahead in fewer than 100. |
| A party or coalition needs at least 272 seats to secure a majority in the 543-member lower house of parliament, or Lok Sabha. | A party or coalition needs at least 272 seats to secure a majority in the 543-member lower house of parliament, or Lok Sabha. |
| In 2014, the BJP won 282 seats - the biggest victory by any party in 30 years - and with its allies, it secured 336 seats in that parliament. | In 2014, the BJP won 282 seats - the biggest victory by any party in 30 years - and with its allies, it secured 336 seats in that parliament. |
| India votes 2019 | India votes 2019 |
| The Congress, which won just 44, suffered its worst defeat in 2014 and with its allies took up just 60 seats in the lower house. | The Congress, which won just 44, suffered its worst defeat in 2014 and with its allies took up just 60 seats in the lower house. |
| This year, there were 900 million voters eligible to take part in seven rounds of voting, making it the largest election the world had ever seen. | This year, there were 900 million voters eligible to take part in seven rounds of voting, making it the largest election the world had ever seen. |
| The fate of more than 8,000 candidates and some 670 political parties hangs on the ballot. | The fate of more than 8,000 candidates and some 670 political parties hangs on the ballot. |
| Results are being released in phases by the Election Commission but a final result may not be known for several hours, or longer. | Results are being released in phases by the Election Commission but a final result may not be known for several hours, or longer. |
| What the results so far tell us | What the results so far tell us |
| It is becoming increasingly clear - the BJP is heading for landslide victory. So what does this tell us? | It is becoming increasingly clear - the BJP is heading for landslide victory. So what does this tell us? |
| Firstly, we see that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charisma has remained intact. | Firstly, we see that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charisma has remained intact. |
| He remains the BJP's main vote-getter, and his assertion that a vote for his party was actually a vote for him seems to have worked. | He remains the BJP's main vote-getter, and his assertion that a vote for his party was actually a vote for him seems to have worked. |
| Secondly, backed by enormous resources, the BJP's organisational machinery, employing all modern methods of communication, is now difficult to beat. | Secondly, backed by enormous resources, the BJP's organisational machinery, employing all modern methods of communication, is now difficult to beat. |
| We also see that the opposition failed to build an alternative narrative to take on the BJP's campaign, which deftly combined nationalism, development and religious polarisation. | We also see that the opposition failed to build an alternative narrative to take on the BJP's campaign, which deftly combined nationalism, development and religious polarisation. |
| The Congress needs to reinvent itself to take on a powerful and committed adversary like the BJP. It will need to become a much more hard-working party, and need to grow its own regional leaders and grassroots networks. | The Congress needs to reinvent itself to take on a powerful and committed adversary like the BJP. It will need to become a much more hard-working party, and need to grow its own regional leaders and grassroots networks. |
| A lack of jobs in cities and villages is not a strong enough message to win elections against a powerful trope like nationalism, which Modi has been able to mine well. | A lack of jobs in cities and villages is not a strong enough message to win elections against a powerful trope like nationalism, which Modi has been able to mine well. |
| What has the response been? | What has the response been? |
| At BJP headquarters in Delhi, the mood was upbeat with party members cheering and setting off fireworks as the results came in. | At BJP headquarters in Delhi, the mood was upbeat with party members cheering and setting off fireworks as the results came in. |
| Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, a senior BJP leader said in a tweet the BJP had won a "massive victory". | Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, a senior BJP leader said in a tweet the BJP had won a "massive victory". |
| The BBC's Zubair Ahmed in Delhi says Congress Party staff and spokespersons, hoping for a much improved performance, look lost for words. | The BBC's Zubair Ahmed in Delhi says Congress Party staff and spokespersons, hoping for a much improved performance, look lost for words. |
| He says an evening press conference is being planned in which some senior party leaders could accept defeat. It is unclear if party president Rahul Gandhi will attend. | He says an evening press conference is being planned in which some senior party leaders could accept defeat. It is unclear if party president Rahul Gandhi will attend. |
| "It's obviously not in our favour at all," said Salman Soz, a Congress spokesperson. "We need to wait for the full results but right now it doesn't look good." | "It's obviously not in our favour at all," said Salman Soz, a Congress spokesperson. "We need to wait for the full results but right now it doesn't look good." |
| Where are they key contests? | Where are they key contests? |
| It's often said that whoever wins Uttar Pradesh, wins the Indian election. The huge northern state sends 80 MPs - more than any other - to parliament. In 2014 the BJP won 71 seats there. It is currently leading in more than 50 seats. | It's often said that whoever wins Uttar Pradesh, wins the Indian election. The huge northern state sends 80 MPs - more than any other - to parliament. In 2014 the BJP won 71 seats there. It is currently leading in more than 50 seats. |
| This is despite a tie-up between two powerful regional parties, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP). The bitter rivals banded together to form a so-called "grand alliance" against Mr Modi and and they were expected to win more seats than the governing party. | This is despite a tie-up between two powerful regional parties, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP). The bitter rivals banded together to form a so-called "grand alliance" against Mr Modi and and they were expected to win more seats than the governing party. |
| The BJP is doing better than expected in West Bengal, where it holds just two of the 42 parliamentary seats. | The BJP is doing better than expected in West Bengal, where it holds just two of the 42 parliamentary seats. |
| Here, it is up against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee - a strident critic of Mr Modi - and it is leading in 17 seats. | Here, it is up against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee - a strident critic of Mr Modi - and it is leading in 17 seats. |
| Four of India's five southern states - Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala - have long eluded the BJP and appear to have done so again in this election. | Four of India's five southern states - Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala - have long eluded the BJP and appear to have done so again in this election. |
| Of the 91 seats in these states, the BJP holds just four. In this part of the country, the party contests few seats, relying instead on alliances with regional heavyweights. | Of the 91 seats in these states, the BJP holds just four. In this part of the country, the party contests few seats, relying instead on alliances with regional heavyweights. |
| What are the key issues? | What are the key issues? |
| The economy is perhaps the biggest issue, with farming in crisis, unemployment on the rise and fears growing that India is heading for a recession. | The economy is perhaps the biggest issue, with farming in crisis, unemployment on the rise and fears growing that India is heading for a recession. |
| A crop glut and declining commodity prices have led to stagnant farm incomes, leaving many farmers saddled with debt. | A crop glut and declining commodity prices have led to stagnant farm incomes, leaving many farmers saddled with debt. |
| Under Mr Modi, the world's sixth-largest economy has lost some of its momentum. Growth hovers around 7% and a leaked government report this year said the unemployment rate is the highest it has been since the 1970s. | Under Mr Modi, the world's sixth-largest economy has lost some of its momentum. Growth hovers around 7% and a leaked government report this year said the unemployment rate is the highest it has been since the 1970s. |
| Many also see this election as a battle for India's identity and the protection of minorities. A strident - and at times violent - Hindu nationalism has become mainstream in the past five years, with increased attacks against minorities, including the lynching of dozens of Muslims accused of smuggling cows. | Many also see this election as a battle for India's identity and the protection of minorities. A strident - and at times violent - Hindu nationalism has become mainstream in the past five years, with increased attacks against minorities, including the lynching of dozens of Muslims accused of smuggling cows. |
| And national security is in the spotlight after a suicide attack by a Pakistan-based militant group killed at least 40 paramilitary police in Indian-administered Kashmir in February. India then launched unprecedented air strikes in Pakistan, prompting it to respond in kind and bringing the two countries to the brink of war. | And national security is in the spotlight after a suicide attack by a Pakistan-based militant group killed at least 40 paramilitary police in Indian-administered Kashmir in February. India then launched unprecedented air strikes in Pakistan, prompting it to respond in kind and bringing the two countries to the brink of war. |
| What Indian voters are being promised | What Indian voters are being promised |