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full screen Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Photo: AP/TT
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party is heading for an electoral victory in the politically important western state of Maharashtra’s election.
The vote in the two states is seen as a test of Modi’s popularity. After the national election earlier this year, Modi had to form a new government, after his alliance backed him. In that election, his party lost its own majority it previously had.
According to India’s Election Commission, Modi’s BJP (Bharatiya Janata) party on Saturday, before all votes were counted, had already secured a clear majority of the 288 seats in Maharashtra, the country’s richest state. It also looks like the party will secure more posts.
However, the opposition Congress Party has secured the majority of seats in the eastern state of Jharkhand.