EGN NEWS DESK
In India’s final normal election, in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party received 303 of 543 parliamentary seats — practically six instances as many as the primary opposition party, the Indian National Congress. It was a stinging electoral blow for the Congress, a once-dominant party that has appeared tremendously diminished in recent times, and exit polls on this yr’s election had not urged it will fare a lot better.
But early election outcomes on Tuesday indicated a far stronger displaying than anticipated for the Congress. The party and its allies have been main in practically 230 races, a pointy turnaround that prompted jubilation on the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, the place supporters erupted in cheers every time a tv channel introduced a brand new lead for considered one of its candidates.
“Whatever the ultimate outcomes, one factor is evident — it’s a ethical victory for Congress and our chief Rahul Gandhi, and defeat for B.J.P.,” mentioned Robin Michael, a political employee, referring to Mr. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.
While there was no indication that Congress and the opposition coalition it leads would scrape collectively a majority to unseat Mr. Modi, party staff mentioned that that they had dented Mr. Modi’s aura of invincibility. They praised Mr. Gandhi, the Congress party’s most distinguished determine and a great-grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first post-independence prime minister.
Last yr, as Mr. Gandhi sought to burnish his standing by main lengthy marches throughout India, the B.J.P. ensnared him in a courtroom case that led to his expulsion from Parliament. He was later returned to his seat by India’s highest courtroom. On Tuesday, Mr. Gandhi was on monitor to win his parliamentary seat within the southern state of Kerala.
The Congress, lengthy positioned at India’s political heart, has struggled to discover a route and supply an ideological different to the Hindu nationalist B.J.P. It has confronted rebellions, infighting and periodic suits of soul-searching over whether or not to rally behind a brand new face — solely to stay with its dynastic management.
This yr, regardless of expectations, Mr. Gandhi had set a goal of doubling the party’s 2019 tally of 52 seats. By late Tuesday afternoon, it was main in practically 100 seats.
“We will cease Modi from making a mockery of this nation and turning folks towards one another,” mentioned Sandeep Mishra, a Congress employee at party headquarters. He added: “Indians are fed up with Modi.”
