Foreign Media’s Reflection on India’s Election Results: Unexpectedly Sobering Victory for BJP-led Coalition

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The results of the recently held Indian national election have taken both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the global community by surprise. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on his third term in office, as his party and its coalition partners clinched a crucial victory. While the BJP fell short of the 272-seat halfway mark in the 543-seat Lok Sabha, it crossed the threshold with the support of its allies. Foreign media outlets have provided intriguing insights into the election results. The New York Times characterized the outcome as ‘unexpectedly sobering,’ noting that the BJP lost seats and now relies on coalition partners to maintain power. The Times highlighted the BJP’s dependency on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to form government and mentioned the influence of the country’s poorest voters on the results. Global News from Canada highlighted the BJP’s unexpected opposition and its failure to secure a majority on its own for the first time since 2014. The report described the outcome as a ‘stunning blow’ to the ruling party’s hopes for a landslide victory. Similarly, The Daily Star reported that in its third term, the BJP will need increased support from its allies compared to previous elections. The China-based Global Times reported that while PM Modi claimed victory, his alliance won by a narrow majority, sparking uncertainty in the financial markets. The US media outlet CNN focused on Modi facing a ‘shock result,’ while Al Jazeera highlighted the BJP’s loss of majority as a big setback. Overall, the election results have prompted discussions on Modi’s leadership style and the future direction of the BJP-led coalition government. As India celebrates the historic feat of a third consecutive term for PM Modi, the nation anticipates the implications of a more diverse parliament with increased regional representation and coalition dynamics.