Opposition congratulate PM Modi for great victory; Term Amit Shah a 'Master strategist'

With the elections establishing the 68-year-old Modi as the most popular leader in decades, the BJP and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are poised to clinch around 350 seats as against their previous 336.

Congress leader Shatrughan Sinha.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday led his Bharatiya Janata Party to a super-sized victory for a second term in office, as his message of nationalism, security, Hindu pride and a New India was wholeheartedly embraced by voters across large swathes of the country. The BJP got an absolute majority bagging 272 of the 458 seats, results of which were declared past midnight and was on course to touch the 300-seat mark in the 543-member Lok Sabha. Leading in another 31 seats, the BJP is set to surpass its 2014 performance when it won 282 seats. With the elections establishing the 68-year-old Modi as the most popular leader in decades, the BJP and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are poised to clinch around 350 seats as against their previous 336. Such was the force of the BJP wave that even Congress President Rahul Gandhi lost in his bastion of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh to Smriti Irani, but in consolation prize won the Wayanad seat in Kerala. Former prime minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda also bit the dust when he lost the Tumkur seat in Karnataka where the BJP bagged 25 of the 28 seats. Speaking on party’s defeat, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said “Defeat of LDF in Lok Sabha elections in Kerala was unexpected. Will examine the reasons in detail. The sentiments against the ruling party in center are reflected”. Even Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik congratulated BJP and said “I congratulate them (BJP). I rang up the Prime Minister in the morning & congratulated him...We'll have a constructive relationship with the central govt for the development & welfare of Odisha”. Speaking on rthe victory of his former party, Congress leader Shatrughan Sinha said “Khel tamasha has taken place at large scale in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh”. Sinha also congratulated PM Modi and Shah for their victory. He also termed Shah as a “master strategist”. Outgoing Andhra Pradesh CM & TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu also reacted on PM Modi victory and said “Congratulate PM Modi, YS Jaganmohan Reddy and Odisha CM for their victory. Thanking all workers who worked for party, also thanking people who blessed TDP. After final results we'll have a review”.