Difficult allies and resurgent opposition await Modi's BJP-led coalition government

Main partners do not share BJP's ideological vision and will want benefits for themselves

- Nirmala Ganapathy

India's strongman Prime Minister Narendra Modi will face the twin challenges of managing difficult allies and a resurgent opposition in his third term in office as the world's most populous country returns to an era of coalition-style politics.

Mr Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to muster a majority on its own, leading and winning in 240 seats, with counting nearing the end of the 2024 General Election.

The BJP is set to cross the finish line only with the help of its regional allies, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United), or JDU.

Together, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has won 293 seats.

The TDP, which swept to power in southern India's Andhra Pradesh where simultaneous state assembly elections were held, has been winning and leading in 15 parliamentary seats. The JDU has been winning and leading in 12 seats in the eastern state of Bihar.

In the 543-seat Lok Sabha or Lower House of Parliament, 272 is the overall majority for a party to form the government on its own. The BJP had aimed to win 370 seats in this election.

The two key allies of the BJP the TDP and the JDU - have reportedly said they will stand by the BJP and look set to play a major role in the formation of the new government. Both TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and JDU leader Nitish Kumar are known for their tough political E negotiations and their transactional form of politics.

"Past experiences have shown that they could be difficult to handle and deal with," said Dr Sandeep Shastri, national coordinator of the Lokniti Network, a network of scholars that conducts election surveys.

Media reports said Mr Modi and Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah have spoken to Mr Naidu and Mr Kumar, separately.