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India Elections (06/04): Modi’s ruling BJP struggles to form majority as opposition performs far better than expected


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Modi’s ruling BJP may gain a two-thirds majority, amid allegations of intimidation of opposition candidates and Muslim voter suppression

 

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Voting has come to a close in India’s mammoth elections, as exit polls widely predicted prime minister Narendra Modi would win a historic third term in proceedings marred by allegations of irregularities.

 

The election, the longest and largest in India’s history with almost a billion eligible voters, began in mid-April. As it progressed over seven phases until 1 June, a deadly heatwave gripped the country, with temperatures almost touching 50C in areas, leading to deaths of dozens of voters and polling officials.

 

Counting begins at 8am on Tuesday, and results are expected the same day. Vote counting is done simultaneously at counting stations in each of the 543 constituencies around the country.

 

According to a flurry of exit polls released on Saturday night, Modi and his Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) are looking at a decisive win and may even gain seats to win a two-thirds majority in parliament, which would allow the government to make far-reaching amendments to the constitution.

 

It would be a historic achievement for Modi, India’s strongman prime minister, whose Hindu nationalist politics have significantly re-shaped India’s secular democracy over the past decade. No prime minister since Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first post-independence premier, has won three consecutive terms.

 

As the election unfolded, allegations of irregularities by the BJP began emerge. Opponents alleged the BJP was undermining India’s democratic processes through the harassment and intimidation of opposition candidates and parties and suppression of Muslim voters who are not the BJP’s usual vote bank. BJP leaders, including the prime minister himself, were accused of openly violating election rules as they resorted to polarising anti-Muslim rhetoric on the campaign trail.

 

 

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4 minutes ago, b_m_b_m_b_m said:

Even Trump hasn’t* gone that far (his supporters have though)

 

*or has he?

 

Trump pointed at the sky and said he's the chosen one but I don't think he's said he's literally divine no. 

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  • Commissar SFLUFAN changed the title to India Elections (06/04): Modi’s ruling BJP struggles to form majority as opposition performs far better than expected

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