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.
Dubai World Cup factbox
Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor(9)
Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)
Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)
Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow(2)
Biography
Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad
Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym
Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army
Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
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Australia tour of Pakistan
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Buy farm-fresh food
The UAE is stepping up its game when it comes to platforms for local farms to show off and sell their produce.
In Dubai, visit Emirati Farmers Souq at The Pointe every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, which has produce from Al Ammar Farm, Omar Al Katri Farm, Hikarivege Vegetables, Rashed Farms and Al Khaleej Honey Trading, among others.
In Sharjah, the Aljada residential community will launch a new outdoor farmers’ market every Friday starting this weekend. Manbat will be held from 3pm to 8pm, and will host 30 farmers, local home-grown entrepreneurs and food stalls from the teams behind Badia Farms; Emirates Hydroponics Farms; Modern Organic Farm; Revolution Real; Astraea Farms; and Al Khaleej Food.
In Abu Dhabi, order farm produce from Food Crowd, an online grocery platform that supplies fresh and organic ingredients directly from farms such as Emirates Bio Farm, TFC, Armela Farms and mother company Al Dahra.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
