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India’s Modi claims victory as he heads for reduced majority
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has claimed a historic third win in a row in the country’s parliamentary elections, but his ruling alliance appears to have failed to win a large majority as predicted. He thanked voters and said he would continue the “good work” of the last decade.
Modi’s BJP-led alliance is leading in more than 290 of 543 seats up for grabs, well short of their target of 400. The Congress and other allied opposition parties have surprised observers, and are now expected to win more than 230.
The results give the lie to a slew of exit polls at the weekend that showed the BJP-led NDA alliance on course for a super majority of two-thirds of parliament, which would have allowed it to make changes to the constitution.
In his first remarks since the election, though, the prime minister was keen to stress his historic third victory.
“I bow to the people for this affection and assure them that we will continue the good work done in the last decade to keep fulfilling the aspirations of people,” he said on X.
Speaking to supporters later, he described his victory as “the biggest in the world” and said he was “very very happy today”.
But Rahul Gandhi – leader of the opposition Congress party – told reporters that Mr Modi and the BJP had been “punished” by voters at the ballot box.
Analysts attribute the BJP’s setback to rising prices, joblessness, a controversial army recruitment reform and Mr Modi’s aggressive and divisive campaign, which may have alienated voters in parts of the country.
Mr Modi had set a target of 370 seats for the BJP and 400 seats for his alliance. This was up from the 303 seats won by the BJP alone in the last general election in 2019.
However, the BJP is no longer expected to get the 272 seats on its own that are needed for a majority in the lower house of parliament.
This is a setback for the party and means – for the first time – Mr Modi would have to rely on smaller parties in the NDA to push through its agenda.
There has been speculation that Mr Gandhi might also try to form a government, but two key NDA parties have already pledged their support for the incumbent prime minister.
Some of the major developments of the election include:
- Mr Modi himself retained his seat of Varanasi, but with a greatly reduced majority
- Mr Gandhi won a seat in Kerala in the south and is expected to win a second seat he is contesting in the bellwether northern state of Uttar Pradesh
- The BJP has seen unexpected losses in Uttar Pradesh, with prominent minister Smriti Irani losing her seat
- Another defeat in the state was at Ayodhya, where a few months ago Mr Modi inaugurated a controversial Hindu temple
The election was seen by many as a referendum on Mr Modi’s decade in office, during which he has transformed many aspects of life in India, so this would be a major upset. The mood in BJP offices around the country has been described by BBC reporters as “sombre”.
In contrast, at Congress headquarters, party workers have been celebrating. The Indian markets, meanwhile, have been showing jitters – falling more than 2% – testifying to the fact that it’s not been a runaway result so far for the governing alliance.
An average 66% of voters took part in the election, official figures showed. It was the biggest such exercise the world has ever seen, with nearly a billion registered voters – about one in eight of the global population.
Voting was staggered over seven rounds between 19 April and 1 June for security and logistical reasons. Much of the election took place in extreme and deadly heat as temperatures in parts of India soared to nearly 50C.
The BJP and its rivals fought a fierce – at times vitriolic – campaign, with the prime minister denying that he was being divisive when he was accused by rivals of demonising Muslims.
Mr Modi toured the country, pointing to his achievements in areas such as delivering welfare schemes and raising India’s global profile.
Opposition parties highlighted cost of living issues, high unemployment – especially for young people – and fears that constitutional changes could disempower the disadvantaged. They also promised to stop India’s “slide into autocracy”.
A number of opposition leaders and government critics have been jailed in recent years, including Delhi’s chief minister Arvind Kejriwal who was taken into custody on corruption charges in April but later briefly released to allow him to campaign.
[BBC]
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Advisory for strong winds and rough seas for the sea areas extending from Kankasanthurai to Chilaw via Mannar and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota
Advisory for Strong Winds and Rough Seas
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 04.30 p.m. 28 May 2026 For the period from 04.30 p.m. 28 May 2026 to 04.30 p.m. 29 May 2026.
Please be prepared as the sea areas extending from Kankasanthurai to Chilaw via Mannar and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota will be rough at times with strong gusty winds up to (60-65) kmph.
The naval and fishing communities who are engaged in fishing and naval activities in the above sea areas are requested to be vigilant in this regard
The West Indies men’s side will play home series against Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan during the 2026 season, with the tours of Sri Lanka and Pakistan including Test matches, Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced on Thursday.
Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, will host the white-ball matches against Sri Lanka between June 3 and 14, with the Test matches, which will start on June 25 and July 3, to be played at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at North Sound in Antigua.
The New Zealand tour will only feature five ODIs, to be played at Guyana’s National Stadium (first three) and Kensington Oval in Barbados (last two) between July 11 and 21.
Pakistan will then visit the Caribbean for two Tests, to be played from July 25 to 29 and August 2 to 6, both in Trinidad and Tobago, but at different venues: the first at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, which will be the ground’s inaugural Test, and the second at Queen’s Park Oval.
The Test matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be part of the ICC World Tet Championship. where West Indies are currently placed last (ninth) after seven losses in eight games in the ongoing 2025-27 cycle.
Guyana was originally due to host all five ODIs against New Zealand, but “logistical challenges” forced a change.
“Cricket West Indies engaged in discussions with the government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana regarding logistical challenges associated with hosting the five ODIs. Subsequently, the governments of Guyana and Barbados proposed a collaborative arrangement to share the matches and associated operational costs between the two territories,” CWI chief executive Chris Dehring said in a statement.
“Following consultation with New Zealand Cricket, Cricket West Indies approved the arrangement as part of its continued commitment to delivering a successful and memorable series for players, fans, and the wider Caribbean community.”
Sri Lanka tour
June 6 – 2nd ODI at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 9 – 3rd ODI at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 11 – 1st T20I at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 13 – 2nd T20I at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 14 – 3rd T20I at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 25-29 – 1st Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua & Barbuda
July 3-7 – 2nd Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua & Barbuda
New Zealand tour
July 13 – 2nd ODI at Guyana National Stadium, Guyana
July 16 – 3rd ODI at Guyana National Stadium, Guyana
July 19 – 4th ODI at Kensington Oval, Barbados
July 21 – 5th ODI at Kensington Oval, Barbados
Pakistan tour
August 2-6 – 2nd Test at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it has targeted an American air base in the region, after fresh US strikes on southern Iran.
The IRGC did not say where the base was, but Kuwait, which hosts a US base, said it had intercepted “hostile missile and drone threats”, without specifying where they were coming from.
Earlier the US military said it had shot down Iranian drones over the Strait of Hormuz and struck a military site in Bandar Abbas, a strategic port city.
The renewed hostilities threaten a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran.
It is the second time in three days that the US has attacked targets in Iran – saying that the strikes were conducted in self defence.
The site in Bandar Abbas was struck as it was about to launch a fifth drone, US Central Command (Centcom) said. Iranian media reported that explosions were heard to the east of the city.
Centcom described its actions as “measured, purely defensive, and intended to maintain the ceasefire”.
It also said its forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones “that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz”.
The IRGC said it had targeted an American air base “that served as the source of the attack” on Bandar Abbas, according to state broadcaster IRIB.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai condemned the US strikes and said they constituted a violation of the ceasefire.
He added that the Islamic republic would “take all necessary measures to defend its national sovereignty”, according to quotes cited by IRIB.
Earlier this week, the US confirmed a previous round of “self-defence” strikes on southern Iran on Monday in which they targeted Iranian missile sites and boats attempting to lay mines in the Strait, where thousands of commercial tanker ships are stranded as a result of the conflict.
Centcom said those strikes were designed “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces”.
The US also imposed sanctions on the “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” – the Iranian body tasked with collecting payments from ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.
Any ships that pay the authority could also be “exposed to the risk of sanctions”, the US Treasury Department said in a statement.
One-fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas and oil normally pass through the shipping channel, and its closure has impacted global fuel trade.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday that Tehran was collecting fees for “navigational services” and it would continue to manage traffic through the waterway.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described it as the “Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade” and “proof” Iran is “desperate for cash”.
The IRGC also said on Tuesday that it had downed a US drone and fired at a fighter jet and another drone that entered Iranian airspace, but did not specify when.
[BBC]
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