India's General Election Comes to a Close Amid Heat Wave, Modi Expected to Win

The general election in India, a six-week-long process to evaluate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decade in power, has concluded. The populous north of the country experienced a severe heat wave during the voting period.

Results Awaited

The results of the election are scheduled to be tallied and announced on Tuesday. Prime Minister Modi, holding a deeply entrenched position, is widely anticipated to secure a third consecutive term, a historical accomplishment in India's nearly 75 years as a republic.

Exit Polls and Anticipation

Post-election exit polls indicate a favorable outcome for Prime Minister Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (B.J.P), reflecting the likelihood of a comfortable return for his Hindu-nationalist party. Despite a united opposition's efforts to oppose Modi's politics and address economic inequality, the exit polls suggest a challenge in significantly reducing the sizable majority held by Mr. Modi's party in the 543-seat Parliament.

Conflicting Views

After the conclusion of voting, Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence in the record number of votes cast in favor of his government. In contrast, Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the Indian National Congress, downplayed the exit polls as “government surveys” and asserted that the official results would reveal his alliance's lead.