India’s general election results are eagerly awaited as the country gears up for a new government to be formed by mid-June. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to secure a third consecutive term, the nation is on the edge of its seat as the votes are counted on June 4.
The process of counting votes is a decentralized one, with each of the 543 constituencies having its own counting station. The day starts early at 8 am with the tallying of postal ballots, followed by the counting of votes recorded in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
The Election Commission of India (ECI) ensures transparency by verifying the paper slips produced by the EVMs against the electronic votes at randomly selected polling stations. Results for each constituency are announced as soon as the counting is completed, with the first-past-the-post system determining the winner.
If a party or alliance secures more than half of the seats (272 or more), they are invited to form the government by the president. In the event of a “hung house,” the party with the largest number of seats is given the opportunity to prove a majority on the floor of the house.
Despite challenges such as lower voter turnout and a more unified opposition, analysts still predict a victory for Modi. As the country awaits the official results, all eyes are on the formation of the new government and the future direction of India.