US congratulates Indian premier over election victory

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US congratulates Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on their victory in the general elections, the State Department said in a statement on Wednesday.

"With approximately 650 million voters casting their ballots over the past six weeks, these elections represent the largest exercise in democracy in human history.

"We commend Indian voters, poll workers, civil society, and journalists for their commitment and vital contributions to India’s democratic processes and institutions," the readout said.

The US looks forward to continuing to further its partnership with the Indian government to promote prosperity and innovation, address the climate crisis, and ensure a "free and open" Indo-Pacific region, according to the statement.

Leaders of the ruling 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 won 240 seats, falling short of the 272-mark 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.