 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Photo: AFP/VNA
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Earlier in the day, the Union cabinet recommended the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament). The term of the current 17th Lok Sabha ends on June 16.
The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won a majority in the Lok Sabha elections. Official results from India’s Election Commission on Wednesday showed the NDA won 292 seats, more than the 272 seats needed to secure a majority.
For the first time since the Hindu nationalist BJP swept to power in 2014, it did not secure a majority on its own, winning just 240 seats — far fewer than the record 303 seats it won in 2019.
Prime Minister Modi made his name in Indian history by securing a 3rd consecutive term. Modi called the victory “a triumph of the world's largest democracy", pledging to make good on his campaign promise to make India the world’s third-largest economy.
“All Indians will move forward for the development of the country. India will see a “new chapter of big decisions” in my third term,” Modi addressed the nation from BJP headquarters.