A victory that is far from a victory. This may be a summary of the (not yet final) results of India's legislative elections, which will confirm Narenda Modi for the third time as leader of the world's most populous country.

Indeed, the latest projections give the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) its run “fewer than the 272 MPs needed to gain a majority in parliament”, as has happened until now. Hence, Modi “will need members of his alliance to form government”, detailed the British media BBC.

The BJP is part of a right-wing coalition, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which should have an absolute majority. The NDA has ruled the country since the 2014 elections, although after the 2014 and 2019 elections, the BJP alone has enough MPs to gain an absolute majority.

From now on, Modi mathematically needs his allies to govern. size change, estimated Hindu, according to whom “The BJP and the Prime Minister can now take a more conciliatory stance“, and even “more centrist” according to political science expert Ashwani Kumar, interviewed by this center-left newspaper.

“A rare setback for the series winner”

Of course, the first results of the Indian elections were also widely commented on outside India's borders, like Washington Post, who represents the BJP “The outcome will likely not be comparable to what happened in 2014, when Modi came to power amid a wave of national anger against corruption, or in 2019, when he was buoyed by nationalist sentiment following the border conflict with Pakistan”.

The current score is increasingly disappointing, continued the American media, because, “Ahead of the elections, Modi and his allies have shown absolute confidence, as BJP leaders have promised to win 400 seats”. Therefore, the American newspaper concluded, if these results are confirmed, then they represent “A rare setback for a politician who, in his 23 years of political career, has cultivated an image as powerful, popular and a serial winner”.

“Victory for the world's largest democracy”

The image of a winner, this is what Narenda Modi still wants to convey in his victory speech which he delivered on June 4. and whose information site CNN deliver the most significant extracts.

“Today is a glorious day…The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will form government for the third time, we thank the people, said the Indian Prime Minister. This is a victory for the world's largest democracy. This is a victory for the country's loyalty to the constitution, a victory for India's 1.4 billion people.”