Opposition leaders concede
Indian National Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Aam Admi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to congratulate Narendra Modi for winning a second term as Prime Minister. With this, we conclude the live coverage of social media updates on Indian elections 2019.
Modi no more a 'chowkidar'
As the final votes got counted, Modi took to Twitter to remove the title of 'chowkidar' or watchman from his Twitter name. The Prime Minster had added the title during the run up to the elections and had urged party members and supporters to do the same. Congress had unsuccessfully tried to use the term against him by coining the phrase "chowkidar chor hai", which translates to 'the watchman is a thief'.
Rahul Gandhi makes statement to the press
Indian National Congress president Rahul Gandhi made a statement to the press conceding defeat in his family's stronghold Amethi and saying that he respected the mandate of the people. He refused to provide a detailed answer on his party's loss and said today was a day to congratulate the Prime Minister. He added that love never loses. Shortly afterwards, Smriti Irani, his opponent in Amethi, tweeted about her victory.
BJP supporters celebrate in Dubai
As the NDA led with 341 seats, news agency Asian News International (ANI) tweeted a picture of celebrations in Dubai. Hashtag #ModiAaGaya became a top trend on Twitter.
Why the saffron wave stops at the Kerala front
Kerala stops saffron wave: Indian Elections analysis from Gulf News.
World leaders congratulate Modi
After Sri Lankan president, world leaders from the Maldives, Russia, China and Nepal congratulated Narendra Modi on his party’s thumping victory.
Modi tweets: India wins yet again
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted a victory message. Writing in Hindi, he wrote his slogan from the 2014 elections "Sabka saath, sabka vikas" (roughly translated to progress for everyone) adding "+everyone's trust=A victorious India". He then wrote: Together we grow. Together we prosper. Together we will build a strong and inclusive India. India wins yet again! #VijayiBharat"
Amit Shah tweets "India's victory"
BJP party president Amit Shah took to Twitter to claim that once again the Modi government would come to power. In a series of tweets in Hindi, he called the victory a victory for India, its people and the progress made in the past five years.
Mamata versus Modi: What's happening in West Bengal?
Mamata versus Modi round one: Indian Elections analysis from Gulf News.
Fighting for freedom of the internet
Internet Freedom Foundation, an organisation defending net neutrality, freedom and privacy in India, issued a detailed statement, as the election results came in. “We congratulate the results of this festival of democracy, which by no means was perfect but requires to be respected. We look forward to the next term of the central government which can advance digital rights as a priority,” the statement by Apar Gupta, Executive Director, read. Gupta went on to derive the future course of action with lessons from B. R. Ambedkar’s constituent assembly speech of 1949 on “methods to hold power to account”. Gupta added that “IFF’s challenges may increase but we remain optimistic” and then urged people to become a member of the organisation.
Latest trends show BJP leads in Chandigarh
Indo-Asian News Service tweeted that latest trends show that #Kirronkher of #BJP is leading in #Chandigarh, while #PawanKumarBansal of #Congress trails.
#AcceptTheVerdict trends
Many Twitter users commented on the need for opposition parties to accept the results that were coming in, despite a resounding loss for most opposition parties.
Mamata Banerjee congratulates winners
All India Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted a congratulatory note to the winners in the elections. However, she said that she would make a comment once the final results were announced.
Rahul Gandhi wins Wyanad seat - reports
According to media reports, Rahul Gandhi has won the Wayanad seat. He is still trailing in Amethi, a seat that is a stronghold of the Gandhi family against BJP candidate Smriti Irani.
Opposition members congratulate Modi
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted a congratulatory note to Prime Minister Modi and BJP party president Amit Shah. Aam Aadmi Party also issued a statement respecting the mandate of the people.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister congratulates Modi
Reacting to the election results pouring in, Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe tweeted a congratulatory message to Narendra Modi, adding that he looked forward to working with him.
Indian elections analysis from Gulf News - UP, MP, Assam, Haryana and North East with with Anupa Kurian-Murshed, Social Media Editor, Sanjib Das, Senior Pages Editor, Malavika Kamaraju, Features Editor and Bobby Naqvi, Editor - Nation desk (from right to left).
Andhra Pradesh CM expected to resign
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was expected to file his resignation after his party lost in the assembly elections according to early trends. Assembly elections were held in the state along with the general elections. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, leader of the YSR Congress Party, is leading in both the state and national elections. According to news channel NDTV, his party is ahead in 142 of the 175 seats in the state government. On the national level, his party is leading in 24 of the state's 25 seats.
Comic relief: News anchor trends worldwide after he mixes one 'Sunny' for another
Controversial Indian journalist Arnab Goswami found his name trending on social media after he accidentally referred to actor-turned-politician Sunny Deol as actress Sunny Leone instead, during his live election coverage. Sunny Deol is contesting on a BJP ticket in Punjab’s Gurdaspur. Early numbers indicated he had a strong lead over his Congress counterpart Sunil Jakhar. Sunny Leone appeared to be quite amused by Arnab’s gaffe and responded to him on Twitter.
South disowns Rahul Gandhi as PM candidate?
As the Congress Party continued its weak performance, allies appeared to be distancing themselves from Congress Party president Rahul Gandhi. Saravanan Annadurai, spokesperson for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) which is an ally in the UPA alliance, said that DMK leader M. K. Stalin had proven to be a decisive leader. “We swept (the Tamil Nadu elections). 37 seats is not a joke. We said that Rahul Gandhi will be our Prime Minister. If North India behaves in a different way, it is not our lookout.”
Modi leads in Varanasi, tweeps celebrates
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads by over 2,00,000 votes in the ancient city of Varanasi. Modi is contesting from here for the second time. His main rivals are Congress's Ajay Rai and SP-BSP candidate Shalini Yadav.
Complaint filed to Election Commission by North Mumbai candidate
Actor-turned-politician Urmila Matondkar tweeted that signatures and machine numbers were different on the form of EVM 17C from Magathane, and that she had filed a complaint with the Election Commission.
Watch the Indian elections analysis from Gulf News - Kerala, West Bengal and Maharashtra with Anupa Kurian-Murshed, Social Media Editor, Sanjib Das, Senior Pages Editor, Chiranjib Sengupta, Assistant Editor and Shyam Krishna, Opinion Editor (from right to left).
Terror-accused Pragya Thakur leads, tweeps react
Two female candidates have dominated Twitter conversations – one for winning and one for losing. Terror-accused Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, a BJP candidate, was leading comfortably in Bhopal. Many tweeps were upset with the controversial candidate potentially making the country’s laws in the future. Aam Admi Party candidate Aatishi Marlena, campaigned on the performance of her party in reforming the public education system in New Delhi. She was trailing against cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir. Reacting to her lead, Thakur was quoted by news agency ANI as saying: "I will surely win. My victory will be a victory of what is right. What is wrong will be destroyed. I thank the people of Bhopal."
#ModiAaRahaHai trends worldwide
With the BJP gaining massively in early trends, #ModiAaRahaHai (Modi is coming) became a worldwide trend. Other India election related trends also topped the worldwide list on Twitter with #ElectionResults2019, #Verdict2019 and Amethi also trending.
Live updates on India elections with Gulf News
Follow our live updates and detailed analysis on what the Indian election results mean for the world's largest democracy.
Early vote counting trends showed BJP minister, Smriti Irani leading in Amethi of Uttar Pradesh, a seat that is usually an Indian National Congress (INC) stronghold. Twitter users said it was a smart decision on Congress president Rahul Gandhi's part, to contest from Kerala's Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency besides Amethi.
Tweeps call for moderation, unity
Many social media users reacted to the early lead, commenting on how the early results were a lesson to the Indian National Congress to change their traditional approach to politics. Other Twitter users hoped that despite the divisive nature of the election campaigns, the future conversation in the country would be one of unity.
Sensex surges over 900 points to hit 40,000 mark for first time
As the NDA continued to lead in early trends, the stock market hit a record high. Sensex hit 40,000 points for the first time and Nifty crossed 12,000.
Too early to react say some social media users
As many BJP supporters rejoiced after the initial trends came in, Congress supporters continued to hang on to hope, with many predicting changes as the counting continued. Tweep @scribe_prashant, felt that it was too early to react, with only 5.71 per cent of votes counted till 9.45am (India time).
NDA leads with 322 seats: Social media users react
As the early trends showed a return of the NDA government, Twitter users took to the micro-blogging site to share their sentiments. While Modi supporters celebrated, some were disappointed with the idea that Modi was set to return to power. Some also said India needs a stronger opposition party.
As many BJP supporters rejoiced after the initial trends came in, Congress supporters continued to hang on to hope, with many predicting changes as the counting continued. Tweep @scribe_prashant, felt that it was too early to react, with only 5.71 per cent of votes counted till 9.45am (India time).
Sensex up by more than 600 points as early trends show a return to power of NDA Government
Though the results of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections are expected only by late evening on May 23, early trends and exit polls showed that the NDA government was set to return to power. The Sensex, trusting the early trends have gone up by more than 600 points. According to equitymaster.com, Indian share markets ended their day on a positive note yesterday ahead of counting of Lok Sabha Election 2019 that began today. Gains were largely seen in the banking sector, oil & gas sector, and capital goods sector. At the closing bell yesterday, the BSE Sensex stood higher by 140 points (up 0.4%) and the NSE Nifty closed higher by 28 points (up 0.3%).
#ElectionResults2019 becomes a top Twitter trend worldwide
Soon after India began the mammoth process of counting the roughly 600 million votes cast in the world's biggest election, hashtag #ElectionResults2019 became the top trend not just in the country but also worldwide, on Thursday.
While news media outlets used the hashtag to share latest updates, tweeps used the hashtag to ask if Modi will return to power or will Rahul Gandhi's party win.
Indians across the world took to Twitter to cheer for their favourites and share updates of which party was trailing in the various constituencies.
Some Indians following the counting live on news channels in the country said they were surprised at the difference in live numbers.
