NEW DELHI – The Latest on India’s general election (all times local):
7:15 p.m.
Voting in India’s mammoth national election has ended with the seventh and final phase of a grueling poll that lasted more than five weeks, with exit polls predicting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party and its allies will win the right to govern for another five years.
Vote counting begins on Thursday, and the election result will likely be known the same day.
Exit polls by two leading television news channels, Republic and TimesNow, projected a victory for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies with 287 to 305 seats out of 543 — far ahead of the 272 seats needed to form the next government.
The election is seen as a referendum on Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP’s main opposition is the Congress party, led by Rahul Gandhi, the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty that has produced three prime ministers.
‘DEI queen’: Virginia Dem’s past embrace of far-left prosecutors unearthed
Slain California fire captain’s wife admits murder after Mexico capture, serving time for killing first spouse
Megan Rapinoe Melts Down After Seeing Photo of Sophie Cunningham with Riley Gaines
Muslims Kill 30 Nigerian Christians in Latest Village Attack
Middle school student arrested after allegedly stashing homemade firearms for robbery plot: sheriff
Dem Senate hopeful flip-flops on emerging issue impacting communities across US
Outgoing Cracker Barrel CEO to Receive Millions in Severance Pay
Conservatives Clash Over Caitlin Clark’s Response to Question About Trans Athletes
Democratic socialist Francesca Hong has former child star, OnlyFans model in senior campaign role: report
Airbnb’s $750,000 to Karen Bass fuels pay-to-play claims over LA rental policy
Schumer said ‘Democrats support voter ID’ — then every Senate Democrat voted against GOP bill
Schumer caves, hands Republicans shutdown win after months of uncertainty
SEE IT: Dem senators rally behind El-Sayed but duck questions on progressive agenda
Two men accused of posing as federal agents arrested after allegedly targeting 85-year-old in $200K gold scam
Senate GOP punts party-line budget fight until after August recess
___
7:30 a.m.
Indians are voting in the seventh and final phase of national elections, wrapping up a 6-week-long long, grueling campaign season with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party seeking reelection for another five years.
The voting on Sunday also covers Modi’s constituency of Varanasi, a holy Hindu city where he was elected in 2014.
The election is seen as a referendum on Modi’s five-year rule. He has adopted a nationalist pitch in trying to win votes from the country’s Hindu majority by projecting a tough stance against Pakistan, India’s Muslim-majority neighbor and archrival.
The Congress and other opposition parties are challenging him over a high unemployment rate of 6.1% and farmers’ distress aggravated by low crop prices.
Counting of votes is scheduled for May 23.
Story cited here.
