Well, after 5 weeks of polling in India the results are in and Narendra Modi and the BJP have swept to victory. Here is a collection of tweets curated from the lead-up to the final day of polling, May 16, that gives a good sense of various reactions to the election results.
For some the victory of the BJP is worrying, almost as if the Boko Haram had taken elections in Nigeria with an overwhelming majority. Certainly the actions of extremists in the new ruling party have earned it the bad reputation it enjoys and the inaction of the new Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the face of such excesses, is why people treat him as if he has horns. Let’s hope the BJP and Modi prove their critics wrong. Ultimately what my Nigerian friend, Olu Oguibe, said on Facebook remains true:
There’s a great deal of weeping and wailing among some today as Narendra Modi and the BJP sweep the stakes in India’s national elections. Yet, who is to blame for their success but the people? Like the ANC, India’s ruling Congress Party takes power for granted and corruption and incompetence as tradition. Worse, still, it saddles itself with a doddering dynasty. And so, the majority of the Indian people have knowingly and willfully cast their lot with Modi and his right wing, religious fundamentalist party. They’ll live with the consequences.
Que sera sera…
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Broad, smart, lovely piece by @DalrympleWill on the Indian elections and Narendra Modi. Best primer you’ll ever read. http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/05/narendra-modi-man-masses … -
But a pretty picture! @ajayrdave: They all were waiting for Lotus to bloom.. It has now.. pic.twitter.com/zlmxET2Yph -
A post by my @E_P_W colleague @vrsini, to read and explore in preparation for tomorrow’s vote counting. http://www.epw.in/election-specials/high-turnout-ongoing-lok-sabha-polls-what-could-explain-it.html#.U3SnD2S96ts.twitter … -
My @TheDailyShow interview discussing the Indian elections will air today at 9 PM EST which corresponds to 6:30 AM IST tomorrow in India. -
Huge celebrations erupt at the BJP headquarters. Didn’t even take an hour of counting that’s how clear it is ! pic.twitter.com/wfFyVAdQlG -
Asinine. Who expects pols to canvass by saying “We’re going to lose”? MT @firstpostin Dear Rahul Gandhi EatYourWords. pic.twitter.com/KTPqQK73iJ -
This Tweet from @narendramodi is now the most RTd Tweet ever from India. https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/467192528878329856 … pic.twitter.com/BkmsPIJq4i -
“Indians have dreamed collectively, & they have dreamed a man accused of mass murder” Must. Pankaj Mishra on #Modi~ http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/may/16/what-next-india-pankaj-mishra … -
Pankaj Mishra has written a terrific, searing, Pankaj Mishra-y piece on Modi & the new India: http://gu.com/p/3p9tc/tw via @WomaninHavana -
How they see Modi http://scroll.in/article/664531/How-they-see-Modi … -
.@greatbong In 2009 you said “BJP was outmaneuvered, not destroyed.” You have been proven right. 🙂 -
Narendra Modi Profile: From tea boy at a railway station to India’s next prime minister http://aje.me/1nRkEAa #IndiaElections -
A big shout out to the ABSOLUTELY AWESOME fight @smritiirani put up in Amethi!! Rahul is left with no face to show! -
Rout as BJP sweeps to power in India RT @OsamaManzar: Congress is looking like beauty spot on Indian map as a result of this election! -
Seismic shift underway in India today. Keep watching at http://nytimes.com . -
Modi Crushes Gandhi in India’s Election Landslide http://thebea.st/1szCd5z via @tunkuv [My take on India’s election results for @dailybeast] -
Arnab FTW. http://www.buzzfeed.com/regajha/arnab-goswami-was-the-real-hero-of-indias-elections … (Honestly, I’ve seen wind-up toys that are less animated. ) -
India’s stock market jumped more than 6% to a record 25,000 points as Modi secures electoral victory. Orgy of joy… http://fb.me/3fa1LfEDU -
Hahahaha brilliant RT @DilliDurAst: How they see Modi http://scroll.in/article/664531/How-they-see-Modi … -
Pankaj Mishra’s long piece on Modi’s India, and on the new India’s canniest artist. http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/may/16/what-next-india-pankaj-mishra?CMP=twt_gu … -
Today, hope won, hate lost. Today, work won,whining lost. Today, my India won, nobody lost. Congrats @narendramodi and BJP for historic win! -
Offering a laddoo to my distinguished predecessor A . Charles, the only other Thiruvananthapuram MP to be re-elected pic.twitter.com/UZF9t8tEAF -
The latest on India’s election by @EllenBarryNYT http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/17/world/asia/india-elections.html?smid=nytnow-share&smprod=nytnow …
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Tech guys lost too! @NandanNilekani & V Balakrishnan MT @manupubby 7 journos lost – Ilmi, Ashutosh, Khaitan, Jarnail, Chandan, Rakhi, Anita -
Still very long queues at @BJP4India HQ of supporters trying to get their hands on box of @narendramodi Laddoos. pic.twitter.com/9ErY6r73xb -
As Modi prepares for office, here, again, is why we think he’s unfit to be India’s PM http://econ.st/1hQzDD7 pic.twitter.com/yjFPzKxE5V -
#Modi‘s victory speech in Indian elections is remarkable to watch, and worth it just for his theatrical physicality. http://m.ndtv.com/video/live/channel/ndtv24x7?alternative … -
Modi’s win may prove problematic when he has to attend talks in NY or Washington and can’t get in. Man doesn’t have a visa to the US. #India -
What the Indian election might mean: http://www.newrepublic.com/article/117783/narendra-modis-election-and-future-india … -
That’s an interesting point from @narendramodi. He will be the first PM born after independence. #indiadecides2014 -
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“I’ve never taken a vacation, ever” boasts Gujarat CM @narendramodi who will be #India’s next PM. -
I will be the hardest working Prime Minister, says @narendramodi. #IndiaDecides2014
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I gather Shinzo Abe sent his congratulations to Modi this afternoon. That is one relationship to watch closely. #HindiJapaniBhaiBhai
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Niece does not approve. #Elections2014 pic.twitter.com/H3WTnAQbav
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