India's election surprise: What went wrong for Modi and what comes next - CNA

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR INDIA?

Many of the BJP’s alliance partners don’t share the fiery pro-Hindu views that are core to the BJP agenda. That means that the BJP could be forced to dial back harsh rhetoric and set aside ambitions to more aggressively reshape India into an overtly Hindu nation.

It may also force the BJP to offer cabinet posts and other concessions to alliance partners. On the economic front, a BJP-led government will likely continue to pursue its business-friendly policies, but a weakened mandate means it may struggle to enact ambitious reforms around labour and land rules, which economists say are necessary to keep growth going.

To shore up support, a BJP-led government may be tempted to turn to populist spending measures, putting its fiscal plans at risk.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD?

Under Modi, India’s profile on the world stage has grown significantly, helped by its robust 8 per cent-plus rate of economic growth and a young and growing population that makes it a draw for foreign businesses.

Modi has sought to cultivate a deeper partnership with the US, which sees India as a critical counterweight to China, while also maintaining strategic independence that has seen it refuse to join the West in condemning Russia over its invasion of Ukraine or shun its oil exports.

Analysts don’t see those positions likely changing anytime soon. The same goes for Modi’s ambitions to make India a global manufacturing hub and continue luring foreign investors on the hunt for the next growth story as China’s economy slows. 

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2024-06-05 03:51:00Z
CBMiVGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS9pbmRpYS1lbGVjdGlvbi13aGF0LXdlbnQtd3JvbmctbW9kaS1ianAtNDM4Nzk3NtIBAA

Third time may not be the charm for India's Modi amid difficult allies and rejuvenated opposition - The Straits Times

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Third time may not be the charm for India’s Modi amid difficult allies and rejuvenated opposition

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeting supporters at his Bharatiya Janata Party's headquarters in New Delhi, after winning a third term in office. PHOTO: NYTIMES

NEW DELHI - India’s strongman Prime Minister Narendra Modi will face the twin challenges of managing difficult allies and a resurgent opposition in his third term in office as the world’s most populous country returns to an era of coalition-style politics.

Mr Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to muster a majority on its own, leading and winning in 240 seats, with counting nearing the end of the 2024 General Election.

• INDIA ELECTION 2024
• Narendra Modi
• Rahul Gandhi
• India

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2024-06-04 21:00:00Z
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India's Modi claims third election victory as alliance heads for narrow majority - CNA

MUMBAI: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed election victory for his party and its allies on Tuesday (Jun 4), but the opposition said they had "punished" the ruling party by confounding predictions and reducing their parliamentary majority.

"People have placed their faith in NDA (National Democratic Alliance) for a third consecutive time", Modi wrote on social media platform X. "This is a historical feat in India's history."

Vote counting, which neared completion on Tuesday night, showed Modi's alliance winning albeit with a surprisingly narrow majority. 

Unlike the last two elections, Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will need its alliance partners to cross the 272 majority mark in the 543-seat lower house of parliament, according to the running vote count.

Modi had set a target of more than 400 seats for his National Democratic Alliance, but it is currently leading in only about 290, according to Election Commission data about three-quarters of the way through the count.

The BJP itself was leading in 239 seats, compared with 303 at the last election in 2019.

"The BJP's reliance on allies to form the government is a slap in the face," said Milan Vaishnav at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think-tank in Washington.

"At this stage, NDA allies will extract their pound of flesh, which will have an impact not just in terms of policymaking but also in terms of the composition of the cabinet. (Earlier) the BJP could dictate terms with very little regard for its coalition partners."

Modi, a strong leader, has not had to rely on alliance partners in the past and it was not clear how easily he would cope.

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2024-06-04 14:23:00Z
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Modi heads for victory in India vote, but no landslide - CNA

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his allies were heading for election victory on Tuesday (Jun 4), but the opposition said they had "punished" the ruling party to confound predictions and reduce their parliamentary majority.

Commentators and exit polls had projected an overwhelming victory for Modi, whose campaign wooed the Hindu majority to the worry of the country's 200-million-plus Muslim community, deepening concerns over minority rights.

But for the first time in a decade, Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could fail to secure an overall majority of its own, figures from the election commission projected, meaning it would need to rely on its alliance partners.

The main opposition Congress party was set to nearly double its parliamentary seats, in a remarkable turnaround largely driven by deals to field single candidates against the BJP's electoral juggernaut.

"Voters have punished the BJP," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi told reporters. "I was confident that the people of this country would give the right response."

With more than 95 per cent of votes counted, the BJP's vote share at 36.9 per cent was marginally lower than it was in the last polls in 2019.

Modi was re-elected to his constituency representing the Hindu holy city of Varanasi by a margin of 152,000 votes - compared to nearly half a million votes five years ago.

The election commission figures showed the BJP and its allies leading in at least 292 seats out of a total of 543, enough for a parliamentary majority.

But the BJP itself was only leading in 240, well down on the 303 it won five years ago, while the Congress had won or was ahead in 98, up from 52.

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2024-06-04 13:13:08Z
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North Korea may step up provocations ahead of US presidential election: South Korea's defence minister - CNA

DETERRING THE NORTH'S RISING THREATS

While Mr Shin believes a full-scale war may not be imminent, he said South Korea is prepared for the North’s provocations or infiltration attempts.

The country, along with the US, is looking at offensive measures in response to the evolving threats. 

Last month, key special operations officials from South Korea and the US met to explore ways to enhance special warfare capabilities. 

They discussed employing special operations capabilities more offensively rather than defensively, sharing operational doctrines, and improving the interoperability of weapon systems, said Mr Shin, who hosted the rare meeting.

Both countries also spoke about how to accept the technology of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including artificial intelligence, and improve future special operational capabilities.

These measures may be applied to joint military drills between Seoul and Washington this summer. 

“The overall framework remains unchanged. However, the content within this framework has been adjusted to focus on the heightened nuclear and missile threats from North Korea,” said Mr Shin. 

“Additionally, recent forms of warfare - such as hybrid warfare, cognitive warfare and grey zone provocations - have been incorporated into the exercises. This includes not only the joint military exercises but also the government exercises, making this a significant difference.”

On its close cooperation with the US, Mr Shin said South Korea pays about US$2.7 billion a year to support American troops stationed in the country.

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2024-06-04 10:12:59Z
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Modi eyes triumph as India counts epic vote - CNA

LOGISTICS OF VOTE COUNT

The polls were staggering in their size and logistical complexity, with voters casting their ballots in megacities New Delhi and Mumbai, as well as in sparsely populated forest areas and in the high-altitude territory of Kashmir.

Votes were cast on electronic voting machines, so the tally will likely be rapid, with results expected within hours.

Counting began on Tuesday morning in key centres in each state, with the data fed into computers.

"People should know about the strength of Indian democracy", chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar said Monday, vowing there was a "robust counting process in place".

India's major TV networks will have reporters outside each counting centre, competing to flash results for each of the 543 elected seats in the lower house of parliament.

In past years, key trends have been clear by mid-afternoon with losers conceding defeat, even though full and final results may only come late on Tuesday night.

"Mandate with destiny", the headline of the Hindustan Times read on Tuesday.

Celebrations are expected at the headquarters of Modi's BJP if the results reflect exit poll predictions.

The winning post is a simple majority of 272 seats, and the BJP won 303 at the last polls in 2019.

HEATWAVE VOTING

Election chief Kumar on Monday proclaimed the 642 million votes cast a "world record".

But based on the commission's figure of an electorate of 968 million, turnout came to 66.3 per cent, down roughly one percentage point from 67.4 per cent in the last polls in 2019.

Final voter data is yet to be released as repolling took place in two stations in West Bengal state on Monday.

Analysts have partly blamed the lower turnout on a searing heatwave across northern India, with temperatures in excess of 45 degrees Celsius.

At least 33 polling staff died from heatstroke on Saturday in Uttar Pradesh state alone, where temperatures hit 46.9 degrees Celsius.

Polling should have been scheduled to end a month earlier, Kumar acknowledged. "We should not have done it in so much heat", he said.

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2024-06-04 02:25:00Z
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Mexicans celebrate first female President as world leaders congratulate - CNA

"HISTORIC ELECTION"

Congratulations poured in from around the world including from US President Joe Biden who welcomed Sheinbaum's "historic election" and said he looked forward to working with her "in the spirit of partnership and friendship."

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a fellow leftist, hailed a "victory for democracy" and vowed to deepen economic ties between Latin America's two biggest economies.

The European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen sent congratulations saying "Mexico and the EU share deep historical, economic and cultural ties. I look forward to strengthening our bilateral relations under your leadership."

Nearly 100 million people were registered to vote in the world's most populous Spanish-speaking country, home to 129 million people.

"Our society is violent, sexist, misogynistic and Dr. Sheinbaum as president will really be able to help change not only the laws but society," said Lol-Kin Castaneda, 48, who waited late into the night to hear the winner speak.

"Mexico can't stand any more violence," she added.

Men also acknowledged the historic nature of this change.

Jesus Martin Uribe, 59, said that with the election of Sheinbaum gender equality in Mexico has never been better.

"Years ago women could not vote in Mexico," said Uribe, who was with his wife and grandson, as the crowd sang the national anthem.

"Now a female president makes history and the direction of the country changes," he added.

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2024-06-03 21:08:40Z
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