The election, the largest in history, saw more than 968 million eligible voters out of a population of 1.4 billion, with 642 million voters participating. Remarkably, 312 million of the participants were women, marking the highest ever female voter turnout.

Simultaneous legislative assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim, along with by-elections for 25 constituencies in 12 legislative assemblies, were conducted during this period.

Incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking a third consecutive term, faced criticism for his Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) handling of hate speeches, reported Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) malfunctions, and alleged suppression of political opponents.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a majority in the Lok Sabha with 293 out of 543 seats. However, the BJP itself won only 240 seats, losing the singular majority it enjoyed in the 2019 and 2014 elections. In contrast, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), an opposition coalition led by the Indian National Congress (INC) and formed in 2023, performed better than anticipated, securing 234 seats. The INC alone won 99 seats, establishing itself as the Official Opposition.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi confirmed the support of his NDA allies to the President of India, clearing the way for his third term as Prime Minister and his first term heading a coalition government. (ILKHA)