Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi\u2019s Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance is projected to win a majority in the general election that concluded on Saturday, an exit poll summary by the NDTV news channel said.<\/p>\n
The summary of two exit polls projected the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) could win more than 350 seats in the 543-member lower house of parliament, where 272 is needed for a simple majority.<\/p>\n
The NDA won 353 in the 2019 election.<\/p>\n
The opposition INDIA alliance led by the Congress party was projected to win more than 120 seats.<\/p>\n
Exit polls have a patchy record in India, as they have often misinterpreted election outcomes. Analysts say it is a challenge to get them right in a large and diverse country.<\/p>\n
Nearly one billion people were eligible to vote in the seven-phase election that began on April 19 and was held in scorching summer heat in many parts.<\/p>\n
The Election Commission will count votes polled in electronic voting machines on June 4; results are expected the same day.<\/p>\n
A victory for Modi, 73, will make him only the second prime minister after independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru to win three consecutive terms.<\/p>\n