After years of certainty, India’s political and economic trajectory has suddenly become more complicated. While polls ahead of the world’s largest elections forecast a resounding victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, the vote saw him lose his parliamentary majority, forcing him to turn to his political allies to form a government.
The BJP won 240 seats in the 543-seat Lok Sabha lower house. While remaining the largest party by seats overall, it is the first time the party has not had a majority since 2014. Modi has outlined plans to establish a coalition with smaller parties comprising his National Democratic Alliance, which would contribute a further 53 seats.
