Tough times for Modi as party loses majority

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced the prospects of a far tougher-than-expected third term after his party failed to secure an outright majority for the first time since sweeping to power a decade ago.

Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party lost the outright parliamentary majority it had enjoyed during its first two terms, but is expected to still be able to rule leading a coalition of smaller parties.

The 73-year-old insisted that the election results were a victory that ensured he would be able to continue his agenda. "Our third term will be one of big decisions and the country will write a new chapter of development. This is Modi's guarantee," Modi told a crowd of cheering supporters in New Delhi.

BJP secured 240 seats in parliament, far less than the 303 from five years ago, and 32 seats short of a majority.

In a remarkable turnaround, the main opposition Congress party won 99 seats, almost double its 2019 tally of 52.

"The country has said to Narendra Modi 'We don't want you'," opposition leader Rahul Gandhi told reporters. "I was confident the people of this country would give the right response."

Commentators and exit polls had projected an overwhelming victory for Modi, who critics have accused of leading the jailing of opposition figures and trampling on the rights of India's 200-million-plus Muslim community.

Now dependent on coalition partners, the BJP will have to seek consensus to push its policies through parliament.

"The lurking possibility of them using their leverage, encouraged further by feelers from Congress and others in the opposition, is going to be a constant worry for BJP," the Times of India reported.

Among the independent lawmakers elected were two serving time in jail - firebrand Sikh separatist preacher Amritpal Singh and Sheikh Abdul Rashid from Indian-administered Kashmir, who was arrested on charges of "terror funding" and money laundering in 2019.

Celebrations had already begun at BJP headquarters before the full announcement of results on Tuesday.

But the mood at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi was also one of jubilation. "BJP has failed to win a big majority on its own," Congress lawmaker Rajeev Shukla said. "It's a moral defeat for them."