Lok Sabha elections 2024 remained under a close and constant watch by the foreign media from the beginning of the marathon polling to the announcement of results. As the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA gears up to form the government for a third term at the Centre, the global media's coverage centred around the saffron party's fractured mandate and the comeback of the opposition.
While the ruling National Democratic Alliance crossed the 290-mark, the BJP was limited to 240 seats but the bigger surprise came from the opposition camp after Samajwadi Party scored big in Uttar Pradesh. With Congress securing 99 seats and its INDIA bloc advancing gains in several key states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and West Bengal, the upcoming 18th Lok Sabha looks set for a healthy mix.
BJP's Ram Mandir push during the campaigns and Modi's "infiltrator" and wealth distribution remark drew criticism from foreign media publications.
India's Modi claims victory as he heads for reduced majority: BBC
The UK-based British Broadcasting Corporation termed Modi's hattrick win as "historic" but "his ruling alliance appears to have failed to win a large majority as predicted."
"The election was seen by many as a referendum on Mr Modi's decade in office, during which he has transformed many aspects of life in India, so this would be a major upset. The mood in BJP offices around the country has been described by BBC reporters as sombre," it said in its report.
"The BJP and its rivals fought a fierce - at times vitriolic - campaign, with the prime minister denying that he was being divisive when he was accused by rivals of demonising Muslims," reoprted BBC.
Indian election delivers stunning setback to Modi: The Washington Post
The US-based publication dubbed the mandate as "unexpected repudiation" of Modi's leadership.
"As prime minister for the past decade, Modi has cultivated an image as a popular strongman and a serial winner, and most political analysts had expected him to easily brush aside India’s enervated and poorly funded opposition parties once more," said the Washington Post report.
The US media giant also reported the Congress's claim of freezing bank accounts and arrest of prominent leaders like Arvind Kejriwal.
Modi Loses His Aura of Invincibility: The New York Times
The New York Times article carried the following opening remark: "Suddenly, the aura of invincibility around Narendra Modi has been shattered."
"In an Indian election in which his party’s slogan had promised a landslide victory and Mr. Modi even repeatedly referred to himself as sent by God, the results announced on Tuesday were unexpectedly sobering," the NYT report stated.
NYT's "generous reading" of the outcome was that Modi's "brand has now peaked, and that he can no longer outrun the anti-incumbency sentiment that eventually catches up with almost any politician."