India election: Modi’s coalition leads but opposition is stiffer than expected

Election officials carry sealed electronic voting machines at a counting centre in Mumbai, India (Rafiq Maqbool/AP)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s coalition is leading in a majority of seats in India’s general election, according to partial figures.

However, Mr Modi’s coalition faces a stronger challenge from the opposition than expected after it pushed back against the leader’s mixed economic record and polarising politics.