Modi's coalition wins vote

Incumbent PM vows to continue with agenda despite drop in support

Bharatiya Janata Party supporters celebrate Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's National Democratic Alliance coalition win Tuesday in New Delhi.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s coalition won a majority in parliament in the country’s staggered election, according to official results released early Wednesday by India’s Election Commission.

The count showed that Modi’s National Democratic Alliance won 286 seats, more than the 272 seats needed to secure a majority but far fewer than predicted.

He had already claimed victory for the alliance late Tuesday, even though his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party won less seats than expected — and more than 60 seats less than the record 303 it won in the 2019 election.

“Today’s victory is the victory of the world’s largest democracy” Modi told a crowd at his party’s headquarters. He said the NDA will form the government for the third consecutive time.

Still, India’s opposition Congress party called the opposition alliance’s strong showing in the polls a “win for democracy” and a “moral and political loss” for Modi.