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| India election 2019: Exit polls suggest Narendra Modi back as PM | India election 2019: Exit polls suggest Narendra Modi back as PM |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on course to win the general election, exit polls suggest. | India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on course to win the general election, exit polls suggest. |
| The BJP and the main opposition Congress party battled it out with powerful regional rivals in a bruising campaign over seven phases of polling. | The BJP and the main opposition Congress party battled it out with powerful regional rivals in a bruising campaign over seven phases of polling. |
| Results will be announced on 23 May. Analysts warn exit polls have often been wrong in the past. | Results will be announced on 23 May. Analysts warn exit polls have often been wrong in the past. |
| Many saw the election as a referendum on Mr Modi who won a landslide in 2014. | Many saw the election as a referendum on Mr Modi who won a landslide in 2014. |
| A party or coalition needs 272 seats in parliament to form a government. | A party or coalition needs 272 seats in parliament to form a government. |
| What are the exit polls saying? | What are the exit polls saying? |
| Four exit polls saw big wins for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), predicting that it would win anywhere between 280 and 315 seats, far more than the Congress party. | Four exit polls saw big wins for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), predicting that it would win anywhere between 280 and 315 seats, far more than the Congress party. |
| However, a Nielsen-ABP news channel poll suggested that the BJP alliance would win 267 seats, falling short of a majority. | However, a Nielsen-ABP news channel poll suggested that the BJP alliance would win 267 seats, falling short of a majority. |
| This prediction comes despite its projection that the party would lose heavily in the bellwether state of Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 MPs to parliament, more than any other. | This prediction comes despite its projection that the party would lose heavily in the bellwether state of Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 MPs to parliament, more than any other. |
| In 2014 the BJP won 71 of the state's seats, and the poll suggests it will lose as many as 51 of those seats to powerful regional parties. | In 2014 the BJP won 71 of the state's seats, and the poll suggests it will lose as many as 51 of those seats to powerful regional parties. |
| India election | India election |
| What has the reaction been? | |
| The BJP tweeted out a telling cartoon, picturing Mr Modi mowing down his political opponents, with an onlooker observing that the situation is the result of seven phases of polling. | |
| West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she "[did] not trust exit poll gossip". | |
| "The game plan it to manipulate or replace thousands of EVMs [electronic voting Machines] through this gossip. I appeal to all opposition parties to be united, strong and bold. We will fight this battle together," she added. | |
| Also on Twitter, Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the election commission, suggesting that they had been compromised. | |
| The election began on 11 April and was held in seven phases for security and logistical reasons. With 900 million eligible voters, it is the world's biggest exercise in democracy. | The election began on 11 April and was held in seven phases for security and logistical reasons. With 900 million eligible voters, it is the world's biggest exercise in democracy. |
| As voting ended, there was a flurry of meetings by opposition leaders, sparking speculation. | |
| What were the key issues this election? | What were the key issues this election? |
| With farming in crisis, unemployment on the rise and growing fears that India is heading for a recession, he economy is perhaps the biggest issue. | With farming in crisis, unemployment on the rise and growing fears that India is heading for a recession, he economy is perhaps the biggest issue. |
| Under Mr Modi, the world's sixth-largest economy has lost some of its momentum. Growth hovers around 7% and a leaked government report claims the unemployment rate is the highest it has been since the 1970s. | Under Mr Modi, the world's sixth-largest economy has lost some of its momentum. Growth hovers around 7% and a leaked government report claims the unemployment rate is the highest it has been since the 1970s. |
| A crop glut and declining commodity prices have led to stagnant farm incomes, leaving many farmers saddled with debt. | A crop glut and declining commodity prices have led to stagnant farm incomes, leaving many farmers saddled with debt. |
| Many also see this election as a battle for India's identity and the state of its minorities. | Many also see this election as a battle for India's identity and the state of its minorities. |
| A strident - and at times violent - Hindu nationalism has become mainstream in the past five years, with increased attacks against minorities, including the lynchings of dozens of Muslims accused of smuggling cows. | A strident - and at times violent - Hindu nationalism has become mainstream in the past five years, with increased attacks against minorities, including the lynchings of dozens of Muslims accused of smuggling cows. |
| And national security is in the spotlight after a suicide attack by a Pakistan-based militant group killed at least 40 paramilitary police in Indian-administered Kashmir in February. | And national security is in the spotlight after a suicide attack by a Pakistan-based militant group killed at least 40 paramilitary police in Indian-administered Kashmir in February. |
| India then launched unprecedented air strikes in Pakistan, prompting Pakistan to respond in kind and bringing the two countries to the brink of war. | India then launched unprecedented air strikes in Pakistan, prompting Pakistan to respond in kind and bringing the two countries to the brink of war. |