India vote signals stability

Photo source: The Hindu newspaper
An Indian woman holds up her finger to display the indelible ink mark that shows she has cast her vote.

Christians in India call election results an answer to prayer

20 May 2009

India's secular ruling party won an unexpected landslide re-election victory in national elections held over the past month in the world's largest democracy.

Christian leaders in India called the election results an answer to their prayers for a governing party that upholds their constitutional right to freedom of religion.

According to news reports, the National Congress party alliance secured at least 260 of India's 543 parliamentary seats, a stronger majority than it enjoyed during previous national elections in 2004. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has led the country since 2004, was appointed by the newly re-elected alliance to serve a second term. An estimated 400 million Indians voted during the five-phase election process.

Read more details about the election results on the BBC News website

However, the need for prayer continues. Anti-Christian sentiment is strong in many regions of India, and a handful of states have "anti-conversion" laws in force that are used by Hindu extremists to persecute believers.

  • Pray for national leadership that protects its citizens' right to freedom of religion
  • Pray for a reversal of state anti-conversion laws
  • Pray for political stability throughout India

    • “He controls the course of world events; He removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.”
    ~Daniel 2:21 (NLT)

  • Pray that India’s new leaders govern with wisdom and tolerance.
  • Pray for Christian workers in regions where open evangelism is difficult.
  • Pray that India as a nation will move away from the centuries-old, divisive caste system and treat its citizens as equals
  • Pray that the political climate in India will provide more openness for those wanting to share their faith in Christ
  • Pray that the new government will take steps to ensure basic rights for all India's people

Click on the photos below to see images from India's recent election

Photo source: The Hindu newspaper