Official data from the Election Commission showed Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead in 300 of the 542 seats being contested, up from the 282 it won in 2014 and more than the 272 seats needed for a majority in the lower house of parliament.
New Delhi:
In a rousing speech at the party headquarters here to celebrate the BJP's spectacular victory, Modi told cheering supporters that the election has thrown up a mandate to build a new India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday promised to devote "every moment" of his time and "every fibre" of his being for the people of India and said the country will now have only two castes -- the poor and those who want to alleviate poverty.
"People are chanting Modi, Modi. But this is not a victory of Modi, it is the victory of people who are desperate for honesty in the system," Modi said.
This is the victory of toiling farmers who struggle to feed the nation, this is the victory of those who now live in proper houses, this is the victory of the middle class which follows the rules, pays taxes, but wondered if his taxes were being used for the benefit of the country, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a grand welcome on Thursday evening at the BJP headquarters as he led the party to a stupendous victory in the Lok Sabha polls.
BJP chief Amit Shah greeted Modi on his arrival at the party office following which hundreds of BJP workers showered rose petals on the two leaders.
Modi waved to the crowd, acknowledging the warm welcome accorded to him.
He also flashed victory sign evoking huge cheers from the crowd.
Members of BJP Parliamentary Board including a number of union ministers were present on the occasion.
Amit Shah terms BJP victory 'rejection of dynasty politics & casteism'
BJP Chief Amit Shah on Thursday described the party's record victory in general elections as win of the 11 crore BJP workers and a victory of the 125 crore people in the country.
In his maiden victory speech at the party headquarters in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Shah said the mandate was a clear rejection of politics of dynasty, casteism and appeasement.
He said the mandate reflects the endorsement of the BJP's works carried out under the theme 'sabka saath, sabka vikas'.
He also said for the first time in 50 years, a government has been ''re-elected'' to power for two consecutive terms. Mr Shah said Congress also tasted a decisive defeat as it could not open account in 21 states and Union Territories.
He said for BJP, the success was more impressive in UP as the two rivals-- SP and BSP -- got together but the people have summarily rejected them.
The BJP chief mentioned about party's victory in West Bengal and state Assembly election in Arunachal Pradesh.
He paid homage to at least 80 workers who died in poll related violence in West Bengal.
Mr Shah complimented SDF leader Pawan Kumar Chamling for party's victory in Sikkim.
Rahul Gandhi accepts defeat, congratulates Modi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accepted the shocking defeat in the Lok Sabha elections as "people's verdict" and congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the victory.
Addressing a brief press conference at the party headquarters here as the results trickled in, Gandhi also conceded defeat in the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, the pocket borough of his family, and congratulated Union Minister Smriti Irani for the victory.
He, however, refused to state what went wrong for the party, and suggested that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) would decide whether he would continue as the party chief.
"It's between me and the party and me and the CWC," he said when asked whether he would step down.
"I had said during campaign that 'janata maalik hai' (people are the decision-makers) and the 'maalik' has given the verdict," Gandhi said.
"First of all, I want to congratulate Modiji and the BJP. We have to accept that Modiji has won this election," the Congress President said.
Asked about the reasons for the debacle, he evaded the query by saying "I don't want to colour the discussion by saying what went wrong."
Questioned about Amethi, the outgoing MP from the constituency said, "I can say that Smritiji has won. I congratulate her."
Gandhi said he respected the verdict given by the people of Amethi and hoped that Irani would live up to the trust reposed in her by the people of the constituency.
He said his party's fight against the BJP was ideological and it will continue.
Gandhi also asked the party cadres to keep fighting for the Congress ideology.
Thank you India! The faith placed in our alliance is humbling and gives us strength to work even harder to fulfil people's aspirations.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2019
I salute every BJP Karyakarta for their determination, perseverance & hardwork. They went home to home, elaborating on our development agenda.
"India wins yet again!" remarked Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the BJP was set to retain power following the Lok Sabha battle.
"Together we grow. Together we prosper. Together we will build a strong and inclusive India.
India wins yet again!" tweeted the Prime Minister.
Cheering supporters set off firecrackers and showered the mastermind of the campaign, BJP President Amit Shah, with petals as he arrived at party headquarters in New Delhi.
“It’s a stamp of approval by voters on the honest and decisive leadership of Prime Minister Modi,” said Nalin S Kohli, a BJP spokesman.
Congress leaders were sombre.
“Why despite a weak economy people preferred the BJP is something we have to understand,” said Salman Soz, a party spokesman.
“People have given them a second chance. I hope they use it well.”
Power states:
Tamil Nadu (including Puducherry) - 39/39 Seats:
DMK - 24
INC - 9
Others - 5
AIADMK - 2
BJP - 0
Uttar Pradesh - 80/80 seats:
BJP - 59
BSP - 11
SP - 6
Others - 3
INC - 1
Maharashtra - 48/48 Seats:
BJP - 23
SS - 18
NCP - 4
Others - 2
INC - 1
West Bengal - 42/42 Seats:
TMC - 23
BJP - 17
INC - 2
CPM - 0
Others - 0
Bihar - 40/40 Seats:
BJP - 16
JD(U) - 16
Others - 6
RJD - 1
INC - 1
All States:
Andaman & Nicobar Islands - 1/1 Seat:
BJP - 1
INC - 0
AAP - 0
Others - 0
Andra Pradesh - 25/25 Seats:
YSRCP - 24
TDP - 1
BJP - 0
INC - 0
Others - 0
Arunachal Pradesh - 2/2 Seats:
BJP - 2
INC - 0
PPOA - 0
Others - 0
Assam - 14/14 Seats:
BJP - 9
Others - 2
INC - 3
AGP - 0
Chandigarh - 1/1 Seat:
BJP - 1
INC - 0
AAP - 0
Others - 0
Chhattisgarh - 11/11 Seats:
BJP - 9
INC - 2
Others - 0
Dadra & Nagar Haveli - 1/1 Seat:
BJP - 1
INC - 0
Others - 0
Daman & DIU - 1/1 Seat:
BJP - 1
INC - 0
Others - 0
Delhi - 7/7 Seats:
BJP - 7
INC - 0
AAP - 0
Others - 0
Goa - 2/2 Seats:
BJP - 1
INC - 1
AAP - 0
Others - 0
Gujarat - 26/26 Seats:
BJP - 26
INC - 0
BTP - 0
Others - 0
Haryana - 10/10 Seats:
BJP - 9
INC - 1
INLD - 0
Others - 0
Himachal Pradesh - 4/4 Seats:
BJP - 4
INC - 0
CPM - 0
Others -0
Jammu and Kashmir - 6/6 Seats:
BJP - 3
INC - 0
PDP - 0
Others - 3
Jharkhand - 14/14 Seats:
BJP - 11
INC - 1
Others - 1
JMM - 1
Karnataka - 28/28 Seats:
BJP - 25
INC - 1
JD(S) - 1
Others - 0
Kerala - 20/20 Seats:
INC - 15
Others - 4
CPM - 1
CPI - 0
BJP - 0
Lakshadweep - 1/1 Seat:
BJP - 1
NCP - 0
INC-0
Others - 0
Madya Pradesh - 29/29 Seats:
BJP - 28
INC - 1
BSP - 0
Others - 0
Manipur - 2/2 Seats:
BJP - 1
Others - 1
INC - 0
CPI - 0
Meghalaya - 2/2 Seats:
INC - 1
NPP - 1
BJP - 0
Mizoram - 1/1 Seat:
Others - 1
BJP - 0
INC - 0
Nagaland - 1/1 Seat:
INC- 1
Others- 0
Odisha - 21/21 Seats:
BJD - 13
BJP - 8
INC - 0
Others - 0
Punjab - 13/13 Seats:
INC - 8
BJP - 2
SAD - 2
AAP - 1
Others - 0
Rajasthan - 25/25 Seats:
BJP - 24
Others - 1
INC - 0
BSP - 0
Sikkim - 1/1 Seat:
SKM - 1
BJP - 0
INC - 0
SDF - 0
Others - 0
Telangana - 17/17 Seats:
TRS - 9
BJP - 4
INC - 3
AIMIM - 1
Others - 0
Tripura - 2/2 Seats:
BJP - 2
INC - 0
IPFT - 0
CPM - 0
Others - 0
Uttarakhand - 5/5 Seats
BJP - 5
INC - 0
Others - 0