New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to return for a third term, with the BJP and its allies clinching a crucial victory in the recent national election. Although the BJP alone fell short of the 272-seat majority in the 543-seat Lok Sabha, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a total of 293 seats, ensuring the formation of the government on Saturday.

Foreign Media Reactions to Indian Election Results:

The New York Times

The New York Times headline read “Modi’s party wins, but it’s far from a landslide.” The paper noted that the results were unexpectedly sobering, with the BJP losing dozens of seats and now needing to rely on its coalition partners to stay in power. The story highlighted that one of these partners is notorious for switching allegiances.

The Times, London

The Times reported that the BJP must depend on the National Democratic Alliance’s backing to form the government. It observed that the country’s poorest voters prevented the BJP from winning outright, despite the lack of specific data on their voting patterns.

Global News, Canada

Global News highlighted that the BJP lost seats to stronger-than-expected opposition, marking the first time since 2014 that the ruling party did not secure a majority on its own. The report called the results a “stunning blow” to hopes of a landslide victory, noting that the BJP will now be “heavily dependent on the goodwill of its allies.”

The Daily Star, Bangladesh

The Daily Star reported that in its third term, the BJP will need more support from its allies, unlike in previous elections. It mentioned that PM Modi had set a target of over 400 seats for the NDA. The report referred to PM Modi as a “strong leader” who had not previously relied on alliance partners.

Global Times, China

The Global Times reported that while PM Modi claimed victory, his alliance won only by a narrow majority. It pointed out that the BJP failed to secure an outright majority, though the alliance did. The article added that the vote counting spooked financial markets, which had anticipated a more substantial win for PM Modi.