The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emerged victorious in the regional elections in Arunachal Pradesh, an area neighbouring China. Conversely, the local party claimed victory in the Himalayan state of Sikkim, according to official declarations and politicians last Sunday. Both Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim undertook provincial elections on April 19th, in sync with the country’s introductory phase of national voting.
Projections indicate a likely third successive triumph for Mr. Modi, gaining a comfortable majority in India’s elections. The country’s swift-growing notable economy has been under Mr Modi’s stewardship for a decade. Early exit polls suggest that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is expected to secure considerably more than the 272 seats required for a majority in the 543-seat lower house of the Indian parliament. More exit polls will be published during the weekend, with the final vote counting occurring on Tuesday, June 4th.
Mr Modi commended the initial exit poll outcomes, attributing it to a victory for the BJP-led coalition. He asserted on social media platform ‘X’ that he was confident the Indian population had turned out in record numbers to grant the NDA government a second term. In his view, the BJP’s illustrious past resonated with voters, primarily the underprivileged, and he disparaged the opposition alliance’s campaign for its lack of a country vision.
In Arunachal Pradesh, the BJP successfully maintained power, securing 46 out of the 60 seats. A leading BJP politician, Ashok Singhal, suggested the outcome was a ‘curtain-raiser’ preceding the announcement of the national election results. He said, “June 4th will reveal the real show with PM Modi’s significant victory commencing from Arunachal Pradesh.”
The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, which had aligned with the BJP during the 2019 national elections, won a decisive victory in Sikkim by capturing 31 out of the 32 seats in the state assembly. Neither the BJP nor the national opposition, Congress party, managed to secure any seats in Sikkim. According to Reuters. (Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024).