A voter casts his ballot at a polling booth in the seventh and final phase of voting of India's general election, Jalandhar, June 1, 2024 (Photo: AFP/ VNA)

Official results from India’s Election Commission on Wednesday showed the NDA with 294 seats, more than the 272 seats needed to secure a majority.

For the first time since his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party swept to power in 2014, it did not secure a majority on its own, winning just 240 seats — far fewer than the record 303 seats it won in 2019. The Congress party won 99 seats, improving its tally from 52 in the 2019 election.

Prime Minister Modi made his name in Indian history by securing a 3rd consecutive term. After the NDA secured a majority, Modi addressed the nation from BJP headquarters. He called the victory “a triumph of the world's largest democracy", pledging to make good on his campaign promise to make India the world’s third-largest economy. Prime Minister Modi said: “All Indians will move forward for the development of the country. India will see a “new chapter of big decisions” in my third term.”

According to observers, despite the victory, this year's general election results were a disappointment to the NDA and Prime Minister Modi. The slim major of victory means Modi and the NDA will face many challenges in Modi’s third term.