India concluded its six-week-long national election on Saturday, with the last of the country's millions of voters heading to the polls in what is widely seen as a momentous referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decade in power. The election, considered one of the most consequential in India's history, is anticipated to have far-reaching implications for the country's future.

Throughout the grueling multi-phase election, candidates crisscrossed the nation, poll workers braved remote villages, and voters endured long queues in sweltering heat. The results, expected to be announced on Tuesday, are anticipated to determine if Modi becomes the second Indian leader to retain power for a third term, after Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of the country.

Most pre-poll surveys indicate that Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading over the broad opposition alliance spearheaded by the Congress party. The votes cast on Saturday will be counted, and the results are expected to be revealed by the end of the day.

Modi's campaign initially focused on promises of economic progress and his vision to transform India into a developed nation by 2047. However, in recent weeks, his rhetoric has become increasingly polarizing, with incendiary speeches that targeted the country's Muslim minority population, which constitutes 14% of the nation's 1.4 billion people.

After the end of campaigning on Thursday, Modi visited a memorial site honoring a Hindu saint, which the opposition Congress party decried as a political stunt that violated election rules.

When the election commenced in April, Modi and the BJP were widely expected to secure another term in power. Since assuming office in 2014, Modi has enjoyed immense popularity, with his supporters viewing him as a self-made, strong leader who has elevated India's global standing. His pro-business policies have been credited with making the economy the world's fifth-largest. However, critics argue that his rule has witnessed brazen attacks and hate speech against marginalized communities, particularly Muslims. Many assert that the line between religion and state has become blurred under Modi's leadership.

Despite initial expectations of a clear victory for Modi, his party has faced strong resistance from the opposition alliance, led by Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party. They have targeted Modi's Hindu nationalist politics and hope to capitalize on growing economic discontent.

Pre-poll surveys indicate that voters are increasingly concerned about unemployment, rising food prices, and a sense that only a small portion of the population has benefited from India's economic growth under Modi. This has made the election appear more closely contested.

The final round of voting covered 57 constituencies across seven states and one union territory, completing the national election to fill all 543 seats in the powerful lower house of parliament. With nearly 970 million voters, representing more than 10% of the world's population, this election stands as a testament to India's vibrant democracy. Over 8,300 candidates competed for five-year terms in parliament.

Modi's BJP, which has a strong foothold in the Hindi-speaking northern and central regions of India, aimed to expand their influence by making inroads into the eastern and southern states, where regional parties have a greater stronghold. The party also sought to consolidate votes from the Hindu majority, who make up 80% of the population, following the controversial opening of a Hindu temple on the site of a demolished mosque in January. However, analysts suggest that the enthusiasm generated by the temple may not be sufficient to secure widespread support.

Modi's campaign took a turn towards targeting the Muslim community after the voter turnout dipped slightly below 2019 figures in the initial rounds of the 2024 polls. While some view this as a strategy to energize his core Hindu voter base, others argue that it reflects the absence of a dominant campaign issue that Modi has previously relied on.

In 2014, Modi's status as a political outsider promising to tackle deep-rooted corruption resonated with voters disillusioned by decades of dynastic politics. In 2019, he triumphed in the polls on a wave of nationalism following airstrikes on Pakistan in response to a suicide bombing in Kashmir that claimed the lives of 40 Indian soldiers.

However, analysts note that the current election landscape is different, presenting political challengers with a potential opportunity. The electorate appears to be voting based on a range of issues, leading to a more diverse contest.

"The opposition somehow managed to derail his plan by setting the narrative to local issues, like unemployment and the economy. This election, people are voting keeping various issues in mind," said Rasheed Kidwai, a political analyst.