India's Modi takes early lead as counting of 600 million votes beginsElection staff members count votes at a vote counting centre in Mumbai, India, May 23, 2019. Official data from India’s Election Commission showed the BJP ahead in 101 seats, with the main opposition Congress Party ahead in 40. Modi was under pressure when he began campaigning, losing three state elections in December amid rising anger over farm prices and unemployment. “National security became the discussion,” said Harsh Pant, a political analyst at the Observer Research Foundation think tank in New Delhi. “The longer election certainly helps Modi: he loves contact with the people,” Pant said.

Source: Standard Digital May 23, 2019 03:56 UTC