India election: PM Narendra Modi may break fresh ground as exit polls predict ‘unprecedented’ win

Most television exit polls indicate the ruling National Democratic Alliance, the right-wing conservative Indian political alliance led by the BJP, is set to win a two-thirds majority in the parliament’s lower house following the conclusion of the country’s general election on Saturday.

The official vote tally will be announced by the election regulator on Tuesday.

Opposition parties have argued that India’s major news channels were biased towards the BJP, with Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the main opposition Indian National Congress party, saying exit polls “were a fantasy”. The outlets have denied those accusations.

While observers had pointed to a number of economic issues that might hold the BJP back from a historic third win, analysts say the prime minister’s overwhelming appeal appeared to have outweighed other concerns.

“Modi’s popularity has emerged as the biggest theme, despite issues like unemployment and inflation,” said Yashwant Deshmukh, an independent political commentator and founder of research firm C-Voter.

“People expect Modi to be a better solution provider than Rahul Gandhi or any other opposition leader,” he said. “There is a definite expectation about India’s growth story in terms of the economy that has helped.”

If Modi won a third term, he will equal the three-term record of prime minister of Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s leader from 1947 to 1964.

Rising costs of living and unemployment emerged as key issues in the election, but the discontent did not seem to have damaged Modi’s image.

06:57

Inauguration of India’s Ayodhya temple tipped to whip up Hindu nationalism ahead of elections

“With the opposition running its strongest campaign since 2014, independent media on YouTube rising in popularity and