Early trends show BJP leading in more than 300 seats

Vote counting began in India's election Tuesday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi all but assured a triumph for his Hindu nationalist drive that has thrown the opposition into disarray and deepened concerns for minority rights.

Exit polls have shown 73-year-old Modi well on track for victory after a six-week-long election that saw 642 million people vote in seven stages across the world's most populous country.

According to BBC, early trends show the BJP-led alliance is leading in more than 300 seats, while opposition parties are ahead in nearly 200.

A party or alliance that wins more than 272 seats in the 543-member parliament can form the government.

The world's biggest election was held in seven phases over six weeks with almost a billion people registered to vote.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is eyeing a rare third consecutive term for himself and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

More than two dozen opposition parties that joined to take on Mr Modi and the BJP are hoping to prove exit polls wrong.