Modi's ruling coalition to secure third term in India, exit polls show

NEW DELHI -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party-led ruling alliance looks poised to secure a third straight five-year term in power, according to exit polls released by local news channels Saturday, following the end of voting in the world's biggest election.

The official results of the general election, which began on April 19 and took place over seven phases, will be released after ballots are counted on Tuesday. Out of the 543 Lok Sabha lower house seats, a party or coalition needs a simple majority of 272 to form a government.