chris mason has broken down the highlights of the debate. is tonight the night you can turn things around, prime minister? the big question for rishi sunak. the polls aren t budging. could this be the moment for a game changer? and here s the guy who wants hisjob. is tonight the night you seal the deal? pleasantries, smiles and you can bet for both of them a bag of nerves. the debate under way, and the biggest topic of our time, the cost of living, set out by paula from huddersfield in the studio audience. my savings are gone and i m genuinely. worried about my future. i don t think you understand . how this is for people like me. so what can you do about that? both men expressed sympathy, and then the argument began. of course i know everyone is onlyjust starting to feel the benefits of it, but inflation is back to normal, wages are growing, taxes are now being cut. keir starmer would put all that progress at risk. he would put up everyone s taxes by £2,000. keir starme
the opposition leader, rahul ghandi, called the alliance s improved performance a verdict against modi s style of politics. to a question on whether he may still try and cobble up a bigger alliance to form a government, gandhi remained noncommittal. translation: until we speak to our alliance partners, - we cannot comment. we will discuss with them if we can form a majority and also get new partners. what was widely anticipated to be a runaway election wasn t to be. and, after ten years of bjp s absolute majority, india will be returning to coalition politics where consensus will be key. arunoday mukharji, bbc news, deli. let s speak to the bbc s arunoday mukharji, who s in deli. as it sinks in, as you say, this is historic a third term in office for a prime minister modi, but not the outcome he hoped for. modi, but not the outcome he heped for- hoped for. absolutely, it is a record third hoped for. absolutely, it is a record third term hoped for. absolutely, it is a record th