India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared victory in the national elections, despite falling short of his goal to secure an unassailable majority for his party.

Addressing supporters at his party headquarters in New Delhi, Modi expressed gratitude to the people, noting the significance of the victory for the world’s largest democracy.

While Modi is poised to form a government with his allies from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to reach the 272-seat threshold for a parliamentary majority, necessitating reliance on coalition partners.

The NDA alliance secured a combined total of 292 seats, with the BJP alone winning 240.

Modi’s ambitious aim of achieving a 400-seat supermajority faced a setback, signaling a shift in his previously dominant electoral performance, CNN reported.

The opposition, led by Rahul Gandhi of the National Congress, interpreted the results as a rejection of Modi’s divisive governance style.

Although unsuccessful in toppling Modi’s government, the opposition’s efforts have chipped away at his electoral dominance, challenging his previous invincibility at the polls.

Written by B.C. Begley