COMMUNISTS labelled the outcome of the Indian election a setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s coalition today.

Mr Modi’s far right Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led in a majority of seats as counting continued, but failed to win the super majority that it had predicted.

The BJP looks set to win a third five-year term as the largest party but the strong performance of the opposition suggests he will have to rely on coalition partners to govern. 

Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Sitaram Yechury described the vote as a “big setback” for the BJP, and said he congratulated “the voters for this verdict to safeguard the Indian constitution and the secular democratic character of our republic.”

A party needs a total of 272 seats for a majority. 

In 2019, the BJP won 303 seats, up from 282 in 2014 when Mr Modi first came to power.

The BJP is part of the National Democratic Alliance, whose members appear to be leading in 277 constituencies and won 15, according to the early count.

Its rival is the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, including the communists and the Indian National Congress, which led in 220 constituencies and had won five.

Critics say Mr Modi has increasingly wielded strong-arm tactics to subdue political opponents, squeeze independent media and quash dissent. 

He has also ramped up his polarising rhetoric against Muslims, who make up 14 per cent of the population

The government has rejected accusations of authoritarianism and insists democracy is flourishing in India.

Economic discontent has risen under Mr Modi with skyrocketing youth unemployment, while the number of millionaires has soared to record levels.