World leaders slow to congratulate Modi after unexpectedly close India election

Major world leaders finally started to congratulate Narendra Modi after initial caution following the 2024 general election in which his ruling party fell short of winning an outright majority.

US president Joe Biden, British prime minister Rishi Sunak, and Russian president Vladimir Putin called Mr Modi to extend their wishes on gaining the historic third term.

Mr Modi was declared the prime ministerial candidate after his party reached an agreement with coalition allies a day after the disappointing election results for his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The reaction from the US, the UK, and Russia trickled in slower than usual as they waited for the final outcome of the election on Wednesday.

Final results showed Mr Modi’s BJP won 240 seats, less than the 272 needed to secure a majority in parliament and also less than what exit polls had predicted.

The 15-member National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition – led by BJP – has 292 seats in parliament, giving it control of the legislature.

The US president “congratulated him (Mr Modi) and the National Democratic Alliance on their historic victory in India’s general election”.

“The two leaders emphasized their commitment to deepening the US-India Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership and to advancing their shared vision of a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” said the White House readout of the call.

They also discussed national security advisor Jake Sullivan’s upcoming travel to New Delhi.

It was a day after the US State Department said it would wait for the final results.

British prime minister Rishi Sunak also called Mr Modi and the two “reflected on the strength of the UK-India relationship and agreed that this will continue