The Indian electorate has given a clear mandate: it's BJP-led NDA all the way for the second term. Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister for the second term - as the counting of votes for 2019 Lok Sabha polls, which is set to conclude in the next few hours, has shown.
While the exit polls have suggested a clear majority for the BJP-led NDA, the BJP seems to have superceded their expectations. The Congress's seat share has reduced significantly, and in one of the biggest upsets to the party, Congress President Rahul Gandhi has been defeated from his home seat of Amethi.
Counting of votes began at 8 am for 542 out of 543 Lok Sabha seats in India and trends stared emerging as early as 11 am. Officials will also verify the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).In case of any discrepancy between the VVPAT count and the EVM results, the printed paper slips’ count is taken as final. The verification of VVPAT slips is conducted inside a secured VVPAT counting booth in the counting hall with access to authorised personnel only. Any counting table in the hall can be converted into VVPAT counting booth after completing the EVM vote counting.
Polling in the seat of Vellore in Tamil Nadu was cancelled after the Election Commission found huge cache of money allegedly from the DMK candidate’s office.
The biggest ever exercise of voting took place in seven phases across 542 parliamentary constituencies from April 11 to May 19. A total of 60 crore votes have been cast across 10 lakh polling booths spread across the entire length and breadth of the country.
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