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India Election-Results Updates: The Count Begins India Election-Results Updates: The Count Is Underway
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, one of the most powerful and divisive leaders India has produced in decades, appeared headed for another five-year term, according to exit polls released on Sunday that showed his party heavily leading.Prime Minister Narendra Modi, one of the most powerful and divisive leaders India has produced in decades, appeared headed for another five-year term, according to exit polls released on Sunday that showed his party heavily leading.
According to all of the major exit polls, Mr. Modi’s brand of Hindu nationalist politics, coupled with his efforts to project a strong image of India abroad, played well among the country’s 900 million registered voters.According to all of the major exit polls, Mr. Modi’s brand of Hindu nationalist politics, coupled with his efforts to project a strong image of India abroad, played well among the country’s 900 million registered voters.
At least seven exit polls released by Indian news organizations on Sunday night predicted that Mr. Modi’s party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, or B.J.P., and its allies would win at least 280 of the 545 seats in the lower house of Parliament, empowering them to choose the next prime minister.At least seven exit polls released by Indian news organizations on Sunday night predicted that Mr. Modi’s party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, or B.J.P., and its allies would win at least 280 of the 545 seats in the lower house of Parliament, empowering them to choose the next prime minister.
If the actual results back the polls up, it will be a more dominating performance than many analysts had thought possible a few months ago, when Mr. Modi appeared to be struggling on economic issues.If the actual results back the polls up, it will be a more dominating performance than many analysts had thought possible a few months ago, when Mr. Modi appeared to be struggling on economic issues.
[Read about the drama and dynamics that unfolded during the 2019 elections in India.][Read about the drama and dynamics that unfolded during the 2019 elections in India.]
The election turnout was one for the history books — the largest exercise of democracy ever.The election turnout was one for the history books — the largest exercise of democracy ever.
In seven phases over 39 days, hundreds of millions of voters cast ballots nationwide at a million polling stations, spread across densely populated megacities and far-flung villages.In seven phases over 39 days, hundreds of millions of voters cast ballots nationwide at a million polling stations, spread across densely populated megacities and far-flung villages.
Turnout percentage also reached a record high, with more than 67 percent of eligible voters participating.Turnout percentage also reached a record high, with more than 67 percent of eligible voters participating.
It is a feat of gargantuan proportions, requiring 12 million polling officials and cutting-edge technology.It is a feat of gargantuan proportions, requiring 12 million polling officials and cutting-edge technology.
At least 22 opposition parties, including the Congress party, petitioned the Election Commission to audit results before the final count is released on Thursday. They said voting machines had been rigged to favor the B.J.P. The election body ultimately rejected their request on Wednesday.At least 22 opposition parties, including the Congress party, petitioned the Election Commission to audit results before the final count is released on Thursday. They said voting machines had been rigged to favor the B.J.P. The election body ultimately rejected their request on Wednesday.
The leader of the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, expressed skepticism of the Election Commission on his Twitter account.The leader of the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, expressed skepticism of the Election Commission on his Twitter account.
As the election came to a close, dozens of fake exit polls attributed to news organizations like The New York Times and the BBC also circulated on WhatsApp. A majority of them predicted a landslide victory for the B.J.P.As the election came to a close, dozens of fake exit polls attributed to news organizations like The New York Times and the BBC also circulated on WhatsApp. A majority of them predicted a landslide victory for the B.J.P.
Mr. Gandhi issued a statement telling party workers to stay “alert” and “vigilant.”Mr. Gandhi issued a statement telling party workers to stay “alert” and “vigilant.”
“Do not be disheartened by the propaganda of fake exit polls,” he tweeted.“Do not be disheartened by the propaganda of fake exit polls,” he tweeted.
The Indian elections are a massive democratic feat. But things are never seamless, and this year the elections did include incidents of violence (though fewer than in previous years) and complaints about rigging, booth capturing and mishandling of electronic voting machines.The Indian elections are a massive democratic feat. But things are never seamless, and this year the elections did include incidents of violence (though fewer than in previous years) and complaints about rigging, booth capturing and mishandling of electronic voting machines.
[Read how simmering hostility between rival parties — and Hindus and Muslims — erupted into violence in a West Bengal town.][Read how simmering hostility between rival parties — and Hindus and Muslims — erupted into violence in a West Bengal town.]
This week, around 500 masked men armed with sticks, machetes and rifles attacked a group of polling officials in the remote northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. The Indian news media reported that the assailants belonged to a party affiliated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The attackers fired at the officials. It is unclear if anybody was injured.This week, around 500 masked men armed with sticks, machetes and rifles attacked a group of polling officials in the remote northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. The Indian news media reported that the assailants belonged to a party affiliated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The attackers fired at the officials. It is unclear if anybody was injured.
In Faridabad, near Delhi, an election official was arrested after video surfaced on social media of him trying to influence voters. In Meerut, a northern Indian city, a group of men set up tents and passed out binoculars to keep an round-the-clock watch on voting machine storage rooms. India’s Election Commission said it had seized nearly $500 million worth of cash, drugs, liquor and precious metals this election, far more than in 2014.In Faridabad, near Delhi, an election official was arrested after video surfaced on social media of him trying to influence voters. In Meerut, a northern Indian city, a group of men set up tents and passed out binoculars to keep an round-the-clock watch on voting machine storage rooms. India’s Election Commission said it had seized nearly $500 million worth of cash, drugs, liquor and precious metals this election, far more than in 2014.
Exit polls suggested that India’s once-dominant powerhouse of a political party, the Indian National Congress, would not be returning to its old glory anytime soon.Exit polls suggested that India’s once-dominant powerhouse of a political party, the Indian National Congress, would not be returning to its old glory anytime soon.
Any gains the Congress party does make are likely to be because of disappointment in Mr. Modi’s economic policies. Farmers have suffered, and Mr. Modi has struggled to create jobs as unemployment rates have risen.Any gains the Congress party does make are likely to be because of disappointment in Mr. Modi’s economic policies. Farmers have suffered, and Mr. Modi has struggled to create jobs as unemployment rates have risen.
His time in office has also been marked by the rise of Hindu nationalism threatening the diverse nation’s fragile fault lines. The Congress party has long cast itself as embracing India’s diverse population, particularly Muslims and other minority groups that Mr. Modi’s party continues to alienate.His time in office has also been marked by the rise of Hindu nationalism threatening the diverse nation’s fragile fault lines. The Congress party has long cast itself as embracing India’s diverse population, particularly Muslims and other minority groups that Mr. Modi’s party continues to alienate.
The party is led by Rahul Gandhi, 48, the scion of the country’s most famous political dynasty. His great-grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, was the first prime minister of independent India. Both his grandmother, Indira Gandhi, and his father, Rajiv Gandhi, served as prime ministers and were assassinated.The party is led by Rahul Gandhi, 48, the scion of the country’s most famous political dynasty. His great-grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, was the first prime minister of independent India. Both his grandmother, Indira Gandhi, and his father, Rajiv Gandhi, served as prime ministers and were assassinated.
Reporting by Jeffrey Gettleman, Russell Goldman, Suhasini Raj, Kai Schultz, Ayesha Venkataraman and Sameer Yasir — Reporting was contributed by Jeffrey Gettleman, Russell Goldman, Suhasini Raj, Kai Schultz, Hari Kumar, Ayesha Venkataraman and Sameer Yasir.