India election 2024 live: Modi forced to form coalition after losing parliamentary majority

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau congratulated Narendra Modi on his re-election even as a high-level Canadian parliamentary panel concluded that India was the second biggest foreign threat to Canada after China.

Despite tensions between the two countries, Mr Trudeau’s office wrote on X: “Congratulations to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his electoral victory.

Canada stands ready to work with its government to advance the relationship between our nations’ peoples — anchored to human rights, diversity, and the rule of law.”

Meanwhile, the report by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP), a bipartisan group of MPs and senators in Canada, emerges at a time when India-Canada relations are at an all-time low after Mr Trudeau alleged last year that Indian government agents were involved in the killing of a Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a claim New Delhi dismissed as “absurd”.

Narendra Modi received calls from several world leaders for his third term in office.

He received a congratulatory call from the UK’s prime minister, Rishi Sunak, on Wednesday. Mr Sunak “congratulated the prime minister on the success in the general elections and conveyed best wishes for a historic third term”, a statement from the Indian caretaker prime minister’s office said.

The British leader’s office said in a statement: “The leaders reflected on the strength of the UK-India relationship and agreed that this will continue to grow in the future.

“Both agreed to stay in touch and looked forward to seeing each other at the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Italy next week.”

US president Joe Biden also made a phone call to Mr Modi. In a post on X, Mr Biden said: “Congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the National Democratic Alliance on their victory, and the nearly 650 million voters in this historic election. The friendship between our nations is only growing as we unlock a shared future of unlimited potential.”

Russian leader Vladimir Putin also called Mr Modi and “warmheartedly congratulated Narendra Modi on the success of the BJP in the general parliamentary elections that finished a few days ago”.

A statement from the Kremlin added: “This reflects the support of the political course pursued by the Indian leadership, recognition of the results achieved in the country’s socioeconomic development, and its strengthening international authority.”

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra praised party workers in Uttar Pradesh for not bowing down and for showing “courage” to “fight in the toughest of times”.

In a post on X, Ms Gandi Vadra wrote: “My salute to all my colleagues of UP Congress. I saw you working hard in the sun and dust, you did not bow down, you did not stop, you showed courage to fight in the toughest of times. You were tortured, false cases were filed against you, you were put in jail, you were repeatedly put under house arrest but you did not get scared. Many leaders left in fear, you remained firm.

“I am proud of you and the conscious people of UP, who understood the depth and truth of this country and gave a strong message to the whole of India to save our Constitution.

“You have reestablished an old ideal in today’s politics – that public issues are paramount, the price of ignoring them is heavy. Elections are of the public, it is the public who fights and it is the public who wins.”

The swearing-in of Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh has been postponed from 9 June to 12 June.

Mr Naidu will be attending Narendra Modi’s swearing-in as prime minister of India on 8 June.

TDP spokesperson K Pattabhi Ram said Mr Naidu wants to avoid having to rush back to Amaravati immediately after the big event in New Delhi.

“He will be sworn in most likely on 12 June. Chandrababu will be in Delhi on 7 June for the NDA parliamentary party meeting and will attend the swearing-in on June 8. He will return to Amaravati a day after that and will be sworn in on 12 June,’’ party spokesperson Pattabhi Ram said.

In January this year, a galaxy of India’s celebrities, including billionaire families, cricketers, and actors, landed at the holy city of Ayodhya in India’s north to attend the “once-in-a-lifetime” consecration ceremony of a grand temple to Hindu deity Lord Ram.

The temple, built over a razed mosque, was thought to be the project that would seal Narendra Modi‘s rare third term as India’s prime minister and guarantee a landslide for his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the May elections.

On Tuesday, as votes were being counted, it became clear that Faizabad, the constituency that is home to Ayodhya and the Lord Ram temple, had resoundingly rejected the BJP, much to the astonishment of not only the political outfit but also many Hindus across social media.

“UP (Uttar Pradesh) is a puzzle but Ayodhya is even worse. I’m scratching my head over the BJP’s loss in Ayodhya. They’ve got temples, hotels, jobs, and an airport – what more do they need? Thoughts?” wrote user Narayanan Hariharan on X, formerly Twitter. Uttar Pradesh is the BJP-ruled state where Ayodhya – thought to be the birthplace of Lord Ram – is situated.

Stunning election result, where the INDIA bloc outperformed exit polls by around 100 seats, could be transformative for political future of opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi, experts tell Arpan Rai:

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has expressed support for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi becoming prime minister, should the opportunity arise.

After the opposition bloc INDIA’s unexpectedly strong performance in the Lok Sabha elections, Mr Raut said: “If Rahul Gandhi is ready to accept the leadership, why would we object? He has proven himself as a national leader for multiple times. He is one of the popular leaders. We all want him and love him. There is no objection and difference in the alliance.”

“Since the beginning of the elections, the INDIA alliance has no dissonance over the post of Prime Minister. This alliance has always fought to save democracy and the constitution from the dictatorial governance of the BJP and people have voted for us. Narendra Modi and Amit Shah should accept their defeat,” he added.

Part of the opposition INDIA alliance, the Samajwadi Party gave voice to voters disillusioned with the BJP, courted marginalised castes and countered Hindu nationalist rhetoric by focusing on social justice:

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau congratulated Narendra Modi on his re-election even as a high-level Canadian parliamentary panel concluded that India was the second biggest foreign threat to Canada after China.

Despite tensions between the two countries, Mr Trudeau’s office wrote on X: “Congratulations to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his electoral victory.

Canada stands ready to work with its government to advance the relationship between our nations’ peoples — anchored to human rights, diversity, and the rule of law.”

Meanwhile, the report by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP), a bipartisan group of MPs and senators in Canada, emerges at a time when India-Canada relations are at an all-time low after Mr Trudeau alleged last year that Indian government agents were involved in the killing of a Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a claim New Delhi dismissed as “absurd”.

After meeting with key allies yesterday, Narendra Modi is expected to receive a set of demands today from the regional parties with whom he will be formed to form a coalition.

Modi held talks with allies for hours at his official residence yesterday, after he resigned to pave way for the formation of a new government in the wake of India’s election.

The Telegu Desam Party (TDP) led by N Chandrababu Naidu is likely to demand a new special status for his state Andhra Pradesh, a cabinet role for his son and more funds for Amravati city in his state.