People of India have given their mandate against a leader who can’t run the government in a completely autocratic manner, according to a lawmaker of India.

“By ensuring that Mr Modi does not get an absolute majority for his Bharatiya Janata Party, the people of India have made it clear that he cannot run his government in a completely autocratic manner,” Jawhar Sircar, former secretary at Congress-led government, told the Mirror Asia.

Sircar represents West Bengal at Rajya Sabha from All India Trinamool Congress.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi looked set on Tuesday to retain power at the head of a ruling coalition, but his Hindu nationalist party lost its outright majority for the first time in a decade as voters defied predictions of another landslide.

The people of India have also empowered the Opposition to keep him under suitable check, according to Sircar who served Indian Administrative Service officer for 41 years.

He headed India’s Culture Ministry from November 2008 to February 2012 — the longest for any Secretary — and was then appointed as  the CEO of India’s public broadcaster for five years (2012 - 2017) but he quit a few months prematurely.

“He (Modi) has to take into consideration the views of his allies in the National Democratic Alliance and has to give due regard to the Opposition, as his coalition can be left without a majority in case he exceeds his limit,” added Sircar who resigned following differences with Prime Minister Modi.

He has moved off from several non-political bodies, but he remains active on more burning public issues than ever before, both within parliament and outside.