Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Party Comfortably Leads in Early Results from India's Election

FILE PHOTO: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures as he addresses supporters during an election campaign rally, in New Delhi, India, May 22, 2024. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File Photo

Early leads reported Tuesday by India’s Election Commission show incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party comfortably ahead over its closest rival.
Three hours into counting, Modi’s Hindu nationalist BJP was ahead in 239 constituencies out of 542 parliamentary seats, and has already won one in an uncontested race, The Associated Press said.
The main opposition Congress party was leading in 96 constituencies.
The Election Commission does not release data on the percentage of votes tallied, but counting is expected to go on through the day. A total of some 642 million votes are being counted in the world’s largest democratic exercise.
Modi’s party is part of the National Democratic Alliance, whose parties were leading in 286 constituencies according to the early count. The Congress party is part of the INDIA alliance, which was leading in 197 constituencies.
A total of 272 seats are needed for a majority in parliament.