Biden congratulates Modi on 'historic victory' in India’s election

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his "historic victory" in India’s general election, the White House said Wednesday.

"The President also commended the people of India for participating in the largest democratic exercise in human history, with nearly 650 million going to the polls to vote," it said in a statement.

During the phone call, Biden and Modi emphasized their commitment to deepening the US-India Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership and to advancing their shared vision of a "free, open and prosperous" Indo-Pacific region, it added.

"The two leaders also discussed National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s upcoming travel to New Delhi to engage the new government on shared U.S.-India priorities, including the trusted, strategic technology partnership," White House added.

Leaders of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) bloc elected Modi to lead a new coalition government for a third straight term, a day after the alliance regained power with a slim majority.

His Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 240 seats, falling short of the 272 needed for a majority in the lower house of parliament, which has 543 seats in total. With its allies, the BJP secured a majority, winning 293 seats.

The opposition INDIA alliance led by the Indian National Congress won 232 seats, higher than exit polls had predicted.