Under-fire India PM Modi loses in elections as Covid cases surge

3 May 2021, 09:24 | Updated: 3 May 2021, 10:01

India is facing a continued fight against surging Covid cases
India is facing a continued fight against surging Covid cases. Picture: PA

By Will Taylor

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party suffered a clear defeat in a key election as the country faces surging Covid cases and a public health crisis.

Countries have raced to send medical equipment to the beleaguered country, which has recorded 368,000 new cases and 3,400 more deaths in a 24-hour period.

Hospitals have fears for their oxygen supplies, while massive rallies organised by Mr Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a large Hindu festival on the banks of the Ganges could have made the spread of Covid worse, according to experts.

While the BJP managed to win a second term in the state of Assam, it failed to achieve victory in Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the south, and did not manage to beat West Bengal's chief minister in that key election.

Read more: India added to red list after new virus strain detected

Read more: 77 cases of ‘double mutant’ Covid-19 variant discovered in UK

Anger has been aimed at Mr Modi and India's Electoral Commission for allowing the votes to go ahead in March and April, as newly confirmed cases began to climb above 100,000 a day.

Supporters of the All India Trinamool Congress party, which beat the BJP overwhelmingly in West Bengal, held celebrations in the state though many attended without masks and social distancing.

'I have family in India and they're not coping well at all'

Political analyst Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay said: "The BJP started running out of steam as the pandemic spread."

He added that the "verdict in West Bengal state will definitely weaken Mr Modi's position" but said it was too early to tell if the vote was a statement against the BJP's response to the pandemic.

Mr Modi's term is not up until 2024.

Read more: UK rushes to send 1,000 more ventilators to India as Covid surge kills thousands daily

Read more: Australia makes travelling from India a criminal offence as Covid cases surge

India has confirmed nearly 20 million cases since the outbreak began, second only to the US's figure of 32.4 million.

The Health Ministry says more than 218,000 people have died from Covid-19 in India but that is thought to be an undercount.

The High Court in Tamil Nadu criticised the Electoral Commission for holding the vote.

Experts have pointed to India's dense population and the Government's loose restrictions around election rallies and religious gatherings, while others have also blamed new and more contagious Covid variants.

Britain to send medical kit to India after Covid-19 surge

The leaders of 13 opposition parties wrote a letter urging the Government to begin a free vaccination drive and ensure oxygen supplies to hospitals.

India is the world's biggest vaccine producer but just 10% of Indians have received a dose, while a mere 1.5% have had two doses.

The New Delhi High Court said it would take action on Government officials if oxygen supplies allocated for hospitals did not arrive.

The UK, which put India on its red list for travel amid worries about a variant first detected there, has announced it will send another 1,000 ventilators.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Israel Palestinians

Israel announces resumption of combat in Gaza Strip as truce with Hamas expires

The IDF said fighting had resumed

Israel says war with Hamas has restarted as truce deadline expires, after IDF intercepts missile fired from Gaza

Released prisoner

Israeli military confirms release of six more hostages in Gaza Strip

Rishi Sunak will call for an "era of action" on the climate

Sunak to call for 'era of action' on climate at Cop28 - despite watering down green measures at home

Omid Scobie has insisted he never sent out a book including two royals' names amid racism allegations

Dutch translator on Omid Scobie's Endgame insists she was sent manuscript with two royals' names in race row

Lloyds banking group is closing more branches in 2024.

Lloyds group to close 45 branches as Labour pledges to keep banks back on the high street - is your local affected?

Hall and Oates

Hall and Oates row: Judge extends pause on Oates’ sale of stake in business

Hamas has claimed Israel is refusing to take back the bodies of the Bibas family

Hamas releases propaganda video of father of 10-month-old Kfir Bibas saying Israel refuses to take his family's bodies

Police clashed with Legia Warsaw fans

Three officers injured as Polish football fans unleash 'planned and systematic violence' on police ahead of Villa game

William and Kate dazzled on the red carpet as they brushed off Scobie's claims

William and Kate all smiles on red carpet as royals brush aside storm around Omid Scobie's book Endgame

Opec sign

Saudi Arabia extends cut in oil it sends to world in bid to boost prices

Exclusive
An 18-month row over pay, job security and conditions has come to an end, for now

'Provoke us again and we will respond in kind': Mick Lynch issues new threat to government after pay deal halts strikes

Matt Hancock appeared at the Covid inquiry on Thursday

Cummings a 'malign actor' and 'missed opportunities': 11 revelations from Matt Hancock's Covid inquiry appearance

Phillip Hancock

Man executed in Oklahoma over double killing in 2001

Milei has backed his country's claim to the Falklands

Britain 'stands firmly' with Falkland Islands as minister pays visit in fresh warning to Argentina's eccentric president

Matt Hancock gave evidence on Thursday.

Matt Hancock insists he is 'no liar' as he blames 'toxic culture' in No10 for Covid failings