As vote counting continues at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in New Delhi, the atmosphere remains mixed with preliminary results being broadcasted on television news channels. Party workers are busy setting up speakers and saffron party flags, symbolizing the BJP's Hindu nationalist base. Posters featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi's face are prominently displayed throughout the headquarters.
Early results on the Election Commission's website show the BJP in the lead, although the opposition Congress party is performing better than some analysts had anticipated. Despite claims from the BJP's top leaders about securing a 400-seat supermajority in parliament, party workers are cautious in their predictions and are closely monitoring updates on their phones.
With extreme heatwave conditions prevailing in the region, a media tent has been set up for journalists to seek respite. The scorching temperatures have taken a toll on poll workers, with dozens of fatalities reported in recent days. Last week, a part of Delhi recorded the country's highest-ever temperature of 49.9 degrees Celsius (121.8 degrees Fahrenheit).
Expressing concerns about the timing of the elections, the Chief Election Commissioner stated in a press briefing on Monday that the elections should have been concluded at least a month earlier to avoid conducting them in such oppressive heat. Nearby, mats filled with food, including puri, a type of flatbread, have been laid out for party workers and visitors at the headquarters.
