Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has admitted he believes he was sent by God for a “purpose” as the country votes in a general election.

“People call me crazy, but I am convinced that ‘Parmatma’ (God) has sent me with a purpose. Once that is fulfilled, my work is done. That is why I have dedicated myself completely to God,” Modi told the NDTV news channel on Sunday.

The results of the general election will be announced on June 4, with Modi seeking a third consecutive term in office. He explained the nature of his supposed relationship with God to the Indian news channel.

“He does not show his face, he keeps making me do things. And I cannot speak to him directly to ask what next,” he added.

Modi is the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which actively promotes Hinduism, the majority religion in India, and he has previously spoken about his spirituality in an interview earlier this month.

“When my mother was alive, I used to believe that I was born biologically. After she passed away, when I reflected on my experiences, I became convinced that God had sent me,” he said, concluding that the divine entity had provided him with “abilities, inspiration and good intentions for a purpose”, making him “nothing but an instrument”.

“The clever fusion of religion and politics in a country where faith is an inseparable part of everyday life is the BJP’s unique selling point. Mr Modi’s assertion is the logical culmination of the BJP’s dominant theme,” wrote the Indian newspaper The Telegraph.

According to India’s Election Commission, more than 111 million voters were eligible to cast their ballots in eight states and regions on Saturday, the sixth and penultimate phase of the election, which will elect 58 of the 543 members of the Lok Sabha.

By that point, more than 800 million people had already voted in the election, which began on April 11 and will conclude with its final phase of voting on June 1.

Narendra Modi has been in power since 2014 and remains widely popular across the country after two terms in which India has increased its diplomatic clout and economic heft.

The prime minister is facing a challenge from a coalition led by the traditionally dominant Congress party.

In total, 968 million Indians are eligible to vote for the 543 members of the lower house of parliament.

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