Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed victory for his electoral alliance and is on track to form a government, despite his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party being set to fall short of winning a majority itself, as the shock results from India's elections came in on Tuesday.
Counting was still under way on Tuesday evening, with final results expected late in the night or early on Wednesday.
Mr Modi claimed victory for his BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in a speech to party workers in a speech on Tuesday night.
“The people of the country have expressed their trust in the NDA for the third consecutive time. This is an unprecedented moment in the history of India. This is the first time since 1962 that a government got a successive victory for third time," Mr Modi said at the party headquarters in the capital, New Delhi.
“I assure the countrymen that to fulfil their aspirations, we will move forward with new energy, new enthusiasm and new resolves," he said, as party workers chanted his name.
Mr Modi had predicted a victory by landslide before the election and was aiming for a super-majority of 400 seats in the 543-seat lower house of Parliament, the Lok Sabha, for the NDA.
But as results came in from across the world's largest democracy, he appeared to have fallen well short of that goal.
The NDA, consisting of the BJP and other smaller parties, was set to win more than the 272 seats needed to form a government, and therefore provide Mr Modi with a third term as prime minister.
But the main opposition INDIA alliance, led by the Congress party, was performing better than expected. It was ahead in about 235 seats, with smaller parties and independent candidates leading in 18 seats.
The ruling party, which enjoyed a huge mandate in the past two elections, faced a jolt from opposition parties that slashed its seats in key constituencies, particularly the BJP’s stronghold Uttar Pradesh.
The bellwether state, ruled locally by the BJP, sends 80 representatives to the Lok Sabha.
But with counting ongoing, the NDA was leading in only 36 seats in the state, compared to 43 seats for the INDIA bloc.
The NDA won 64 seats in Uttar Pradesh in 2019, with the BJP alone winning 62.
This year, the Samajwadi Party, a Socialist party popular in the state, was leading in 37 seats in the state.
Smriti Irani, the firebrand BJP leader and Minister of Women and Children Development, lost to Congress’s Kishori Lal Sharma in the state’s Amethi constituency.
Ms Irani defeated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is seen as Mr Modi’s main opponent, in the same constituency in 2014.
In the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, the Telugu Desam Party swept the polls as part of NDA. It is expected to be a crucial player in the formation of a BJP-led government.
The TDP was also leading in the state legislature election, held simultaneously with the parliamentary vote, against the incumbent YSR Congress party.
The BJP achieved its maiden victory in Kerala, the southern Communist-ruled state where actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi defeated communist candidate V S Sunilkumar in the Thrissur constituency by more than 74,000 votes.
Kerala, which is India’s most developed states and has the highest literacy in the country, has traditionally swung between the left and the Congress.
However, the BJP failed to win a single seat in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, a crucial state with 39 seats.
Mr Modi had made ten trips to the southern coastal state. The BJP has struggled to make inroads in the state that has rejected the party’s hardline Hindu politics. It won only one seat in 2014 but drew a blank in 2019.
Congress leader Mr Gandhi, who was contesting in Wayanad in Kerala, won by more than 364,000 votes while defeating Dinesh Pratap Singh from BJP in their bastion of Rai Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.
Mr Gandhi thanked the voters for "saving the country’s constitution”.
He has accused Mr Modi and the BJP of undermining India’s democratic system, damaging law enforcement and the judiciary while targeting journalists and dissenters in a widespread crackdown.
"The country has unanimously told Narendra Modi and Amit Shah that we don't want you running this country," Mr Gandhi told reporters.
The latest results and trends have bolstered the Congress party, which was almost written off by political pundits against the Modi juggernaut that many commentators had claimed was almost invincible under the strongman.
“This is a well fought battle by a combined opposition. This is the first time the opposition came together with the right kind of spirit and the chemistry showed and people realised there was something serious at stake,” Prof Apoorvanand, a Delhi-based political commentator, who goes by one name, told The National.
“It is encouraging to see the return of the idea of Congress which is expansive and accommodative, where all voices can find their place. Rahul Gandhi has encouraged this idea by introducing the element of social justice and economic equality,” he said.
Political analysts have attributed unemployment, inflation and the BJP’s divisive politics and aggressive push for the agenda of Hindu supremacy as the reasons for its dismal performance.
Hinduism forms the majority religious group in India, with about 80 per cent of the population following the faith, but the country has significant numbers of Muslims, Christians and Sikhs.
But since first coming to power a decade ago, Mr Modi’s government has been increasingly pushing the plank of Hindutva – the Hindu hegemony agenda propagated by the right-wing ideology.
The Hindu nationalist leader often invoked majoritarian identity during his poll campaigns where he called Indian Muslims “infiltrators” and “baby producers”, stoking sectarian divides for political gain.
“This is a firm rejection of the BJP to turn Indian democracy into majoritarian, totalitarian state, firm rejection of the anti-Muslim platform that Modi has used to seek mandate for himself and the party,” Prof Apoorvanand said.
“What do we seek from our governance? To manage our economy, to create jobs, opportunities and enhance the wealth of the nation and wellbeing of people. It is a message to do a job expected to do and not engage in cultural renaissance or utopia of Hindu Rashtra,” he said.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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THE BIO
Ambition: To create awareness among young about people with disabilities and make the world a more inclusive place
Job Title: Human resources administrator, Expo 2020 Dubai
First jobs: Co-ordinator with Magrudy Enterprises; HR coordinator at Jumeirah Group
Entrepreneur: Started his own graphic design business
Favourite singer: Avril Lavigne
Favourite travel destination: Germany and Saudi Arabia
Family: Six sisters
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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ENGLAND SQUAD
Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
The%20Color%20Purple
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBlitz%20Bazawule%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFantasia%20Barrino%2C%20Taraji%20P%20Henson%2C%20Danielle%20Brooks%2C%20Colman%20Domingo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
EA%20Sports%20FC%2024
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Scorebox
Dubai Hurricanes 31 Dubai Sports City Eagles 22
Hurricanes
Tries: Finck, Powell, Jordan, Roderick, Heathcote
Cons: Tredray 2, Powell
Eagles
Tries: O’Driscoll 2, Ives
Cons: Carey 2
Pens: Carey
MATCH DETAILS
Barcelona 0
Slavia Prague 0
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
Kandahar%20
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LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
The bio:
Favourite holiday destination: I really enjoyed Sri Lanka and Vietnam but my dream destination is the Maldives.
Favourite food: My mum’s Chinese cooking.
Favourite film: Robocop, followed by The Terminator.
Hobbies: Off-roading, scuba diving, playing squash and going to the gym.
Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
The%20specs
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Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
