Narendra Modi claims a histroric landslide victory

Colombo (News 1st): Bharatiya Janata Party led by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has claimed a historic landslide victory at the national elections with 346 seats. The Congress led by Rahul Gandhi secured only 91 seats. The results of 105 seats are yet to be released. 543 parliament seats are being contested in the lower house or the Lok Saba and parties need to get 272 seats to claim a majority to form a government. “Together we grow,” Modi said on Twitter as the results came in. “Together we prosper. Together we will build a strong and inclusive India. India wins yet again!” https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1131488026247323648 Meanwhile, Smriti Irani, the actress who won the hearts of many Sri Lankans with her performance as Thulsi in the Mahagedara teledrama series, which was broadcast on Sirasa TV, defeated Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. Smriti Irani who represents the BJP has won more than 49% of the total votes in the Amethi seat, while her opponent, leader of the Congress Party, Rahul Gandhi only obtained 44% of the total votes. The Indian polls are considered the election of the world's largest democracy with 900 million eligible voters, 2000 plus political parties and 8000 candidates. This year’s polls, held in seven phases begining April 11th, have been described as a contest for the soul of India. In 2014, the BJP won 282 seats, the biggest victory by any party for 30 years, gaining a majority in parliament and trouncing the outgoing Congress Party. While the Congress only secured 44 seats during the 2014 elections, it was the largest defeat suffered by the Congress Party. More than 8000 candidates, representing 670 political parties contested this year's elections. The Lok Sabha elections commenced on April 11th and concluded on May 19th this year. Between April 11th and May 19th, hundreds of millions of Indians voted for members of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, which has 543 elected seats. India began counting hundreds of millions of votes in its general election today, with a coalition led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party already preparing to form the next government. Six of seven exit polls showed that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is expected to surpass the 272 seats needed to command a majority in the lower house of parliament. Their predicted margin of victory is larger than surveys indicated in the run-up to the vote when most polls showed the NDA would be the largest alliance but would fall short of an overall majority. Counting of the more than 600 million votes began at 8 am local time and trends were expected to be known by noon. Final results are due later  today. Official data from India's Election Commission showed Modi's Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead in 339 of the 542 seats available, more than the 272 seats needed for a majority in the lower house of parliament. That would give it the first back-to-back majority for a single party since 1984.