Narendra Modi in early lead as millions awaits official election results in India

Counting of votes is underway in India after its marathon seven-phase general elections concluded on May 19 with early leads indicating the return of prime minister Narendra Modi for a second term.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) lead by the Hindu Nationalist Bharatiya Janta Party is leading in nearly 340 of the 542 seats that went to the polls.

Opposition United Progression Alliance headed by the India National Congress Alliance is leading in less than 100.

About 67 percent of more than 900 million eligible voters cast their ballots in the staggered elections that the ruling party fought on issues of national security and a hard line Hindu agenda.