PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain has won the French league in Kylian Mbappé’s last season at the club after Monaco lost 3-2 at Lyon on Sunday.
PSG has an unassailable 12-point lead over second-place Monaco, which has three games left.
The Ligue 1 triumph is PSG’s third in a row and a record-extending 12th overall.
Mbappé has been involved in six of them, but comes off contract at the end of the season. He’s expected to be signed by Real Madrid.
PSG is on course for a historic treble as it will play at Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals on Wednesday and face Lyon in the French Cup final on May 25.
In coach Luis Enrique’s first season at the club, PSG produced one of the most dominant seasons in league history with just one loss in 30 games so far.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
PSG's Kylian Mbappe gets away from Le Havre's Yoann Salmier during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Le Havre at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
VARANASI, India (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in the holy Hindu city of Varanasi on Tuesday surrounded by his party leaders and supporters as he formally filed paperwork to run in an ongoing election that is essentially a referendum on his decade in power.
The 73-year-old leader hopes to retain his seat in Varanasi, the constituency from where he ran and won, first in 2014 and then again in 2019.
India’s gigantic, six-week-long general election began in April, with voting set to go on until June 1 before votes are counted on June 4. Nearly 970 million people are eligible to vote, making this the world’s largest democratic election.
Most polls show Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party are leading in the race for seats in the lower house of parliament over their main challenger, a broad opposition alliance led by the Indian National Congress and powerful regional parties. The alliance has not yet announced its candidate for prime minister.
The filing of nomination papers is a procedural step that will allow Modi to contest the election. Candidates register their nominations in phases based on when the constituency votes, with Varanasi set to vote on June 1.
Modi is considered a champion of the country’s Hindu majority, who make up 80% of India's 1.4 billion population. He has overseen rapid economic growth during his 10 years in power and his supporters credit him with improving India's global standing.
But critics say he’s also undermined India’s democracy and its status as a secular nation with attacks by Hindu nationalists against the country’s minorities, and a shrinking space for dissent and free media. And his political opponents have raised questions over his government's economic record, pointing to high unemployment and inflation despite strong growth.
Ahead of filing his nomination, Modi led a roadshow in the city on Monday, drawing thousands of supporters.
They cheered “Hail Modi!” as his car made its way through the streets, where BJP supporters wearing saffron caps and waving party flags greeted him. Rose petals rained down on the prime minister as he smiled at the crowds. Some onlookers were perched atop buildings to catch a glimpse of the procession.
The constituency of Varanasi has around 1.7 million voters. Modi, who is expected to hold on to his seat, is up against Ajai Rai, who is representing the regional Samajwadi Party, which is in alliance with the opposition Congress party in the state. Also in the fray is Athar Jamal Lari from the Bahujan Samaj Party.
The holy city is located on the banks of the revered Ganges River and is part of Uttar Pradesh state, India's most populous, with around 200 million people.
It is an especially crucial state in Indian elections as it sends the largest number of MPs to Parliament, and has voted for Modi's BJP in the last two elections.
Banerjee reported from Lucknow, India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, performs rituals at Kashi Vishwanath Temple as Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh sits behind him after a roadshow in Varanasi, India, Monday, May 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar)
Supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) participate in a roadshow by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi, India, Monday, May 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets supporters at Kashi Vishwanath Temple after his roadshow in Varanasi, India, Monday, May 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar)
Supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) react as they get a glimpse of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his roadshow in Varanasi, India, Monday, May 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a white waistcoat, and Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh greet supporters from a vehicle during a roadshow in Varanasi, India, Monday, May 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prays at Kashi Vishwanath Temple after a roadshow in Varanasi, India, Monday, May 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar)
