There is a unique interpretation being made of the general election results in India, which were declared on Tuesday. The runners-up are having a party, while the victors seem to be taking it easy.
Led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the NDA alliance has secured a historic third term in power with more than 290 seats in the 543-member parliament.
However, the prime minister is now viewed as a considerably less formidable leader because his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was unable to secure the key 272 seats required to form the government on its own.
The result is viewed as a major win for Rahul Gandhi, the head of the Congress party and the opposition INDIA alliance.
Even though the coalition only has slightly more than 230 seats and insufficient support to form a government, they haven’t given up more than 24 hours after the vote count started.
“It is an extraordinary story,” political analyst Rashid Kidwai told the news. The outcome is unexpected. The opponent has successfully executed an unexpected move.
The Congress party celebrated the verdict as “a moral and political defeat for Mr. Modi,” given that the BJP had centered the majority of its campaign around his reputation and achievements. “The country has unanimously sent a message to Mr. Modi and [Home Minister] Amit Shah that we do not want you,” Mr. Gandhi said at a press conference on Tuesday night.
